They knew the name upon my tongue They knew the fire in my eyes They saw the woman they could use But never asked me why They watched my hands They watched my face They waited for me to break Then you walked in And looked at me Like nothing was at stake I knew the silence in your voice I knew the storm beneath I knew the smile you wore for them Was not the one you kept for me You didn’t ask Where I had been Or what I’d left behind You only looked And understood Before I spoke my mind You saw the fear I wouldn’t show You saw the part I wouldn’t let them know And somehow in a world of lies We never had to hide You knew me You knew me Before they knew my name You saw me You saw me Before I became the flame Let them talk Let them tell Let them write what they believe You knew me You knew me And that’s enough for me You knew when I was angry Before I raised my voice You knew when I was frightened Before I made my choice You knew when I was leaving Before I turned away You knew I would stand beside you Before I heard you say Don’t ask me where we’re going I don’t need to know Just keep your eyes upon me And I’ll know when to go No promise No surrender No words we had to keep Two women On the same deck With the whole black sea beneath You knew me You knew me Before they knew my name You saw me You saw me Before I became the flame Let them talk Let them tell Let them write what they believe You knew me You knew me And that’s enough for me How did you know? Because I know you. How did you see me? Because I see you. They knew our names You knew me. You knew me You knew me Before they knew my name You held me You held me When I couldn’t say my name Let them talk Let them tell Let the whole world disagree You knew me You knew me And that’s enough for me
