[Intro – Sung] We were fire in a small town sky Two silhouettes against goodbye You were my lover, my best friend Now I’m the storm you couldn’t stand You ran when it got real I stayed to feel… [Verse 1 – Rap] Yeah… We were ride or die, same side of the war Late night drives, backseat dreams on the floor Said we’d never fold, never break, never bend You weren’t just my man, you were my best friend Used to know my thoughts ‘fore they left my tongue Now you don’t even flinch when I come undone Funny how forever only lasts ‘til it’s tested You loved me loud, but you left me unprotected I was losing my voice tryna keep you calm Shrinking who I was just to fit your arms Every red flag looked pink in the dark Now I’m sweeping up glass from my own damn heart It was you or me, that’s the line in the sand Either lose myself or lose my man You chose escape, I chose pain You ran from the fire, I walked through the flame Yeah it shattered me, yeah I broke it myself Had to choose my soul over somebody else Thought we were a team, thought we’d never part Guess I was your lover… not your best friend at heart [Pre-Chorus – Sung] I held the weight for both of us You dropped the rope when it got too much I’m bleeding truth but I still stand You let go… I held my ground [Chorus] I shattered my own heart to save my soul Watched you run while I took control We were forever — or so you said But forever fled when the truth was bled I’m free, even if it hurts like hell Free from the cage where I couldn’t dwell It was you or me, I had to choose So I lost my love… before I’d lose Myself. Yeah, I chose myself. [Verse 2 – Rap | Faster, sharper delivery] Remember when you said I was your ride or die? Now you ghost real quick when it’s time to try You wanted loyalty, but only your way Soon as I needed you, you faded to gray I was your backbone, your late-night call Your safe place, your home, your all-in-all But when I asked for the same in return You hit the exit, let the whole thing burn Guess it’s easier runnin’ than lookin’ inside Easier switch lanes than swallow your pride You called me dramatic, said I changed too much Nah, I just stopped acceptin’ a half-assed love You said I was different — damn right, I grew Stopped makin’ excuses for you Stopped dimmin’ my shine so you could glow Stopped beggin’ for effort you didn’t show You lost your girl, your day-one, your friend I lost illusions that wouldn’t bend I lost the future I painted in gold But I kept my fire, I kept my soul [Pre-Chorus – Softer, emotional] You ran the other way When love got hard to stay I stayed and faced the rain Even if it meant the pain [Chorus – Bigger, layered vocals] I shattered my own heart to save my soul Watched you run while I took control We were forever — or so you said But forever fled when the truth was bled I’m free, even if it scars my skin Free from loving you more than I fit in It was him or me, I had to choose So I lost my best friend… before I’d lose Myself. Yeah, I chose myself. [Verse 3 – Rap] Yeah, now I see it clear as glass You loved the version that wouldn’t ask For respect, for growth, for equal ground Soon as I leveled up, you weren’t around You said, “You changed.” Yeah, that’s called healing. You said, “You’re cold.” Nah, that’s called feeling. I stopped playing small so you’d feel tall Stopped cushioning your every fall I was fighting for us, you were fighting me Now I’m fighting for peace and finally free Mr. Right? Nah, Mr. Comfort Zone Couldn’t stand when I stood alone Thought I’d chase, thought I’d beg, thought I’d crawl But I rose instead — now I stand ten feet tall And yeah, I miss my friend sometimes Miss the laugh, miss the late-night lines Miss the way we’d dream out loud But I won’t miss shrinkin’ to make you proud So here’s a toast — no hate, no lies Just growth and truth and opened eyes You ran from love when it got too deep I chose myself… and I chose to keep My crown. [Bridge – Sung, emotional build → explosive] It hurts like hell, but it hurts less than Losing the girl I’ve always been I’d rather cry in honest light Than smile in a love that dims my shine You ran… I rose… You hid… I chose… [Final Chorus – Full power, anthemic] I shattered my own heart to save my soul Watched you run while I took control Thought you were my forever friend But forever ends when you won’t defend I’m free — even broken, I’m free Free from who I had to be It was him or me, and I refuse To lose myself just not to lose You. Yeah… I chose myself. And that’s the truth.
