[Verse 1 – piano only, intimate] I was too young to know what I had Busy chasing nights that didn't last You’d wait up, leave the hall light on I came home empty, you were already gone I gave you silence when you needed words Put all your dreams in the back of the heard Now he’s the one you laugh with in the car And I’m just somebody that you used to love from afar --- [Verse 2 – add soft strings] He buys you flowers on a random Tuesday I couldn’t even show up on your birthday You used to say my name like a prayer Now you don’t say it at all – and that’s fair He holds your hand when you’re quiet I was too proud to try it Now I’m singing to a ghost at 2 AM Wishing I could be the man you needed then --- [Chorus – fuller but restrained] Oh, I should’ve held you closer Should’ve kissed you slower Should’ve stayed when you asked me to stay But I let you slip away Now he’s giving you forever And I’m learning late that never Does a man know what he had until it's gone Darling, I should’ve been the man you leaned on --- [Bridge – piano solo then vocal reflection] I hope he never makes you cry alone I hope he comes running when you call your phone And if one day you think of me at all Just know I finally learned to catch the fall Too late for us – but not too late to say I’m sorry I wasn’t better yesterday --- [Final chorus – wider strings, more emotion] Oh, I should’ve held you closer Should’ve kissed you slower Should’ve stayed when you asked me to stay But I let you slip away Now he’s giving you forever And I’m learning late that never Does a man know what he had until it's gone Darling, I should’ve been the man you leaned on --- [Outro – piano fades, spoken-sung] Yeah… I should’ve been the man you leaned on But you found him And I found this piano And a ghost of what I could’ve been
