[Intro] (whispered, breathy, over minor piano — single notes) I had it all planned out… every word I'd say… I never said a one… [Hook] (soft, aching — restrained) I practiced what to say for a hundred miles home, every word to earn the door, every reason to be known Had the whole apology rehearsed beneath my breath — but You met me first, You met me first Got down to start the speech I'd been building like a wall, and You raised me up before I said a word at all — 'cause You met me first, oh, You met me first [Verse 1] (intimate, conversational, building) I'd been gone so long I forgot the way it felt to be wanted, built my case for coming back like a courtroom, like I'm haunted Wrote it out a thousand times — what I'd done and why I'd run, all the groveling and the reasons, all the damage I had done And I figured I'd be lucky just to stand outside the gate, just to maybe earn a corner if I begged enough and waited — so I came up the long road with my head already low, with the speech behind my teeth and all the shame I had to show [Pre-Hook] (swelling, more air in the voice) But I never saw You waiting at the far end of the lane, never thought You'd come toward me 'fore I ever spoke my name — so the words I'd built to win You back… just died inside my chest [Hook] (fuller now, opening up) I practiced what to say for a hundred miles home, every word to earn the door, every reason to be known Had the whole apology rehearsed beneath my breath — but You met me first, You met me first Got down to start the speech I'd been building like a wall, and You raised me up before I said a word at all — 'cause You met me first, oh, You met me first [Verse 2] I had the perfect sorry, had it polished, had it clean, had the version of myself that I'd present to be redeemed Was gonna list out all my failures, gonna offer up a deal, gonna trade You my performance for a corner I could steal But You didn't want the speech, didn't want the bargained vow, didn't want the cleaned-up story I'd rehearsed to show You how — You just wanted me to turn around and start the walk back in, and You closed the whole long distance 'fore I got to my first sin [Pre-Hook] 'Cause You weren't keeping score behind a door I couldn't pass, You were running down the road I thought would judge me to the last — so the speech I'd built to earn it… I just dropped it in the dust [Bridge] (choir, half-time, big gospel runs over the top) You met me (You met me) on the road (on the road) 'Fore I ever found the words, 'fore I made it to the door You met me (You met me), You ran first — all the speeches I'd rehearsed, You didn't need a word (You met me… You met me…) [Verse 3] (energy lifts, hope breaks through, vocal opening to full) Now I don't rehearse my way to every door I walk inside, don't show up with a speech prepared to earn the right to hide 'Cause the love I thought I'd argue for, beg and itemize, was already down the road toward me 'fore I lift my eyes So if you've got a speech rehearsed for why you can't come home, all the reasons you'll be turned away, all the shame you hold alone — just turn around and start to walk, you don't need to say a thing: the one you're scared to face is already running, already running [Final Hook] (full belt + choir + runs) I practiced what to say for a hundred miles home — but I never had to say it, no, I never walked alone The speech died in my throat and I made it through — 'cause You met me first, You met me first Every word I'd built to earn it, every reason, every plea — You dropped it in the dirt and put Your arms around me — 'cause You met me first, oh, You met me first [Outro] (choir fades under reverb, organ holds, vocal soft) I had it all rehearsed… and I never said a word… You met me first… You met me first…
