Care Without Surrender by AlexMerced

[Intro]
I keep a chair beside the door
A little room for one soul more

[Verse 1]
You told me your brother won’t call
You sleep with your coat on indoors
I knew the ache behind your joke
I stayed until the kettle smoked

You said, “You’re the only one who sees”
I let that sentence fasten me
Then someone else came needing hands
And I was making newer plans

[Pre-Chorus]
I can hear a hurt and answer
I can sit with what you feel
But a heart is not a shelter
I can promise you to build

[Chorus]
I can care without surrender
I can leave the door unlocked
You deserve a love that’s steady
I can’t be every place you’re lost
Every soul I want to rescue
Gets a piece I cannot spare
I can wish you safe tomorrow
Without making my home there

[Verse 2]
At June’s small kitchen, plates stacked high
She said her old friends passed her by
I took her calls through half the night
And missed the life I’d left outside

Then Mara showed me cracked phone screens
A father’s words, a landlord’s fees
I gave her Sundays, gave her sleep
Till promises grew hard to keep

[Pre-Chorus]
I can hear a hurt and answer
I can sit with what you feel
But a heart is not a shelter
I can promise you to build

[Bridge: piano and tense, low choir]
If I say no, you may feel lonely
If I say yes, I disappear
Your pain is real; my limits are too
Both can be true and both belong here

[Group Chants]
Not every need is mine to fill
Not every goodbye means I don’t care

[Lead]
I won’t make kindness into a vow
I won’t call drowning being there

[Final Chorus]
I can care without surrender
I can leave the door unlocked
You deserve a love that’s steady
I can’t be every place you’re lost
Every soul I want to rescue
Gets a piece I cannot spare
I can wish you safe tomorrow
And still keep my own life here

[Outro]
I hope the morning treats you kindly
I hope you find a hand to hold
I can love you from the boundary
And not leave myself out in the cold

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[Intro] I keep a chair beside the door A little room for one soul more [Verse 1] You told me your brother won’t call You sleep with your coat on indoors I knew the ache behind your joke I stayed until the kettle smoked You said, “You’re the only one who sees” I let that sentence fasten me Then someone else came needing hands And I was making newer plans [Pre-Chorus] I can hear a hurt and answer I can sit with what you feel But a heart is not a shelter I can promise you to build [Chorus] I can care without surrender I can leave the door unlocked You deserve a love that’s steady I can’t be every place you’re lost Every soul I want to rescue Gets a piece I cannot spare I can wish you safe tomorrow Without making my home there [Verse 2] At June’s small kitchen, plates stacked high She said her old friends passed her by I took her calls through half the night And missed the life I’d left outside Then Mara showed me cracked phone screens A father’s words, a landlord’s fees I gave her Sundays, gave her sleep Till promises grew hard to keep [Pre-Chorus] I can hear a hurt and answer I can sit with what you feel But a heart is not a shelter I can promise you to build [Chorus] I can care without surrender I can leave the door unlocked You deserve a love that’s steady I can’t be every place you’re lost Every soul I want to rescue Gets a piece I cannot spare I can wish you safe tomorrow Without making my home there [Bridge: piano and tense, low choir] If I say no, you may feel lonely If I say yes, I disappear Your pain is real; my limits are too Both can be true and both belong here [Group Chants] Not every need is mine to fill Not every goodbye means I don’t care [Lead] I won’t make kindness into a vow I won’t call drowning being there [Final Chorus] I can care without surrender I can leave the door unlocked You deserve a love that’s steady I can’t be every place you’re lost Every soul I want to rescue Gets a piece I cannot spare I can wish you safe tomorrow And still keep my own life here [Outro] I hope the morning treats you kindly I hope you find a hand to hold I can love you from the boundary And not leave myself out in the cold

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