"I Can Breathe Without U Now”

"I CAN BREATHE WITHOUT U NOW" Performed VocalsTony Sanchez* Written by 12 Gauge 12Gauge858 Music INTRO (SPOKEN) *(Warm Rhodes piano. Dark cinematic cello underneath.)* Funny thing about heartbreak... Nobody really prepares you for it. Nobody tells you what it feels like... To love somebody with everything you've got... Only for them to look you in the eyes... And tell you... *"You're too good for me."* Then leave anyway. That's rough. Because what do you do with that? What do you do when the person you would've moved mountains for... Decides they don't deserve your love... And walks away before you get the chance to prove them wrong? For a long time... I thought losing you meant losing myself. But I was wrong. *(Soft guitar harmonic.)* --- ## **VERSE 1** For a while I counted every sunrise Measured every day by what was gone Kept your picture in the same old frame Even after you moved on Every room still held your shadow Every song still wore your name I thought losing you would end me But somehow I stayed the same No... Not the same... --- ## **PRE-CHORUS** The nights got shorter The tears fell less The weight got lighter On my chest And somewhere in the silence I found what I thought I'd lost --- ## **CHORUS** I can breathe without U now... *(hold "now")* No-o-o-o-o-o-o-ow... Didn't think I'd ever say those words out loud I can sleep without U now... Without reachin' for somebody that ain't around Somewhere between the heartbreak And all the tears that fell like rain I can breathe without U now... And I finally feel... Oka-a-a-a-a-a-a-ayyyyy... *(Dark cello answers.)* --- ## **VERSE 2** I don't hate the way you left me Truth is, I learned a lot You showed me what my heart was made of And everything that it was not There were nights I nearly called you Nearly gave the loneliness the win But healing kept on whispering "Don't go backwards again" And for the first time in forever... I listened... *(Music nearly stops.)* Yeah... --- ## **PRE-CHORUS 2** The storms moved farther The skies turned blue The man inside this mirror Finally broke through And somewhere in the healing I stopped chasing yesterday --- ## **CHORUS** I can breathe without U now... No-o-o-o-o-o-o-ow... Didn't think I'd ever see this side of me I can stand without U now... Without needing your love to set me free Somewhere between the broken pieces And every prayer I couldn't fake I can breathe without U now... And I finally found my... Stre-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-ngth... *(Long emotional run.)* --- ## **SHORT GUITAR & CELLO INTERLUDE** *(Electric guitar sings the melody.)* *(Dark cello answers.)* **Tony Ad-Libs:** Yeah... Still breathing... Never thought I'd get here... Mm... --- ## **VERSE 3** Funny how the heart keeps beating After swearing it was done Now I see the road behind me And I don't feel the need to turn around Every mile that almost broke me Helped me put my feet back on the ground And every step that brought me here Showed me I was stronger than I knew --- ## **BRIDGE** *(Music drops to Rhodes, bass, and dark cello.)* There was a night... I sat alone inside my car Your picture on my phone Your voice in my head And every part of me wanted to go back Wanted to call Wanted to hear you say my name One more time *(Cello swells.)* But love... Real love... Shouldn't have to be begged for... Shouldn't have to be chased... And that's when I knew... --- ## **FINAL CHORUS** *(Full band. Strings rise. Cello climbs upward.)* I CAN BREATHE WITHOUT U NOWWWWWWW AND THE AIR DON'T HURT NO MOOOOOOORE I CAN WALK WITHOUT U NOOOOOOOOW WITHOUT CRAWLIN' ACROSS THIS FLOOOOOOR I THANK GOD FOR EVERY HEARTBREAK EVERY LESSON EVERY SCAAAAAAR CAUSE LOSING U DIDN'T DESTROY MEEEEEE IT SHOWED ME WHO YOU AAAAAAARE AND WHO I AM... *(Music drops out.)* Yeah... --- ## **FINAL CHORUS LIFT** I CAN DREAM WITHOUT U NOOOOOOOOW WITHOUT THE WEIGHT GETTIN' HEAVIEEEEEEER SOMEWHERE BETWEEN GOODBYYYYYYE AND THE MAN I'VE BECOOOOOOOME I FOUND PEACE INSIDE THE PAAAAAAAIN AND I FINALLY CAME HOOOOOOOME *(Massive soaring falsetto)* Hooooooooooooome... Hooooooooooooome... --- ## **OUTRO (FADE BEGINS 6:47)** *(Drums disappear.)* *(Rhodes, guitar, and dark cello remain.)* **Tony Ad-Libs:** I can breathe now... Yeah... Still breathing... I made it through... Without U now... *(Falsetto)* Without U noooooow... Without U noooooow... Still breathing... Still breathing... I made it through... Throooooooough... Yeah... Without U now... Without U now... *(Dark cello sustains beneath the fading falsetto.)* *(Fade to silence around 7:00.)* --- **Written by 12 Gauge** **12Gauge858 Music** 🎵