I Won't Surrender the Truth

soulful harmony, but moving quickly as there is a lot of text to get in

I knew I couldn't be your mother,
I never tried to take her place.
I tried to speak her name with honor,
Tried to leave her memory safe.
I loved the people who had loved her,
I tried to make the circle wide—
I thought if I just loved you long enough,
Someday you'd let me stand inside—
That's why it hurts to see you paint me
So differently through your eyes.

You rewrote seventeen years of my life
And gave me a character I don't recognize.
You took the thing I tried so hard to do right
And somehow made it wrong in your eyes.

That's the wound that's hardest to release—
Not just that you walked away,
But who you say I was before you left.

I can't make you see the truth in me,
No matter how I wish I could.
So I'll surrender who believes it—
But I won't surrender what I know is true.

Maybe sometimes I tried too hard,
Maybe sometimes I got it wrong,
Maybe my love couldn't make me welcome
Where I never quite belonged.
But imperfect isn't wicked,
Your interpretation doesn't make it true—
There were seventeen years of showing up
Because I truly cared for you.

I wanted to correct each accusation,
Bring the memories one by one—
Not to prove that I was perfect,
But to show the truth of what I'd done.
I only want enough mercy
To be known by my own name—
To let the whole of who I was
Count for more than someone's claim.

But I can't chase your story
Everywhere that it's been told.
I can't make you reconsider,
I can't make the truth take hold.

God was there for every moment.
He knows what was in my heart.
And maybe this is my surrender—
Knowing where my work must stop.

I can look into the mirror
Without becoming who you see,
And love the man who lived those years
And knows what's true about me.

You may rewrite seventeen years of my life,
You may see a character I don't recognize.
And yes, that wound may always hurt a little,
Because being your bonus mother mattered in my life.

But I don't need to change your version
To remain the woman I am through and through
So I'll surrender every verdict
But I will never surrender what I know is true.

I wasn't perfect.
I was present.

I wasn't your mother.
I never tried to be.

I was simply someone
Who loved your father
And tried to love you faithfully.

If that's not the story you remember,
I can't make you see my truth

I'll lay down
the need to change your minds

But I'm not laying down
what's true.

2618/7500

If you'd accused me of failing At something that didn't matter to me, Maybe I could turn and walk away, But you chose the one place in my heart Where I tried hardest to get it right, And painted me the villain In a story that was never mine. I knew I couldn't be your mother, I never tried to take her place. I tried to speak her name with honor, Tried to leave her memory safe. I loved the people who had loved her, I tried to make the circle wide— I thought if I just loved you long enough, Someday you'd let me stand inside— That's why it hurts to see you paint me So differently through your eyes. You rewrote seventeen years of my life And gave me a character I don't recognize. You took the thing I tried so hard to do right And somehow made it wrong in your eyes. That's the wound that's hardest to release— Not just that you walked away, But who you say I was before you left. I can't make you see the truth in me, No matter how I wish I could. So I'll surrender who believes it— But I won't surrender what I know is true. Maybe sometimes I tried too hard, Maybe sometimes I got it wrong, Maybe my love couldn't make me welcome Where I never quite belonged. But imperfect isn't wicked, Your interpretation doesn't make it true— There were seventeen years of showing up Because I truly cared for you. I wanted to correct each accusation, Bring the memories one by one— Not to prove that I was perfect, But to show the truth of what I'd done. I only want enough mercy To be known by my own name— To let the whole of who I was Count for more than someone's claim. But I can't chase your story Everywhere that it's been told. I can't make you reconsider, I can't make the truth take hold. God was there for every moment. He knows what was in my heart. And maybe this is my surrender— Knowing where my work must stop. I can look into the mirror Without becoming who you see, And love the man who lived those years And knows what's true about me. You may rewrite seventeen years of my life, You may see a character I don't recognize. And yes, that wound may always hurt a little, Because being your bonus mother mattered in my life. But I don't need to change your version To remain the woman I am through and through So I'll surrender every verdict But I will never surrender what I know is true. I wasn't perfect. I was present. I wasn't your mother. I never tried to be. I was simply someone Who loved your father And tried to love you faithfully. If that's not the story you remember, I can't make you see my truth I'll lay down the need to change your minds But I'm not laying down what's true.

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