Since the Day I Left

[Verse 1 low, conversational]

You say I’m a quitter
Say I’m weak
Say there ain’t a woman
On this earth for me
Call me the villain
In every regret
But baby, don’t forget
You helped make me like this
You wore those fake smiles
While cutting me down
Yeah, you chipped at my heart
Till I figured it out
So thank yourself now
If you’re feeling alone
’Cause I’m gone for good
And I ain’t coming home

[Pre-Chorus quiet confidence]
You broke me just enough
To finally see
I don’t need your voice
Living inside of me

[Chorus (warm but firm]

You say I’m not pretty
Well maybe
Not for you
I don’t got a model body
Yeah, that part’s true
But baby, you should know
I finally see myself
I never felt this wanted
Since the day I left

[Verse 2 (truth without bitterness]

You said I’d never make it
Said I’d fall apart
But you of all people
Know my heart
I don’t fold easy
I don’t scare and run
I bend, I heal
And I become
Funny how the silence
Started calling my name
Funny how the world
Looks different now I’m free from your blame

[Pre-Chorus 2 (spoken-sung]

I learned my lesson here
Yeah, I paid my dues
Turns out I was strong
Just not with you

[Chorus (fuller, self-assured]

You say I’m not pretty
Well maybe
Not for you
I don’t got a model body
Yeah, that part’s true
But baby, you should know
I finally chose myself
I never felt this wanted
Since the day I left

[Bridge (soft - lift]

I don’t need perfection
Don’t need to compete
I don’t need a mirror
Telling me who to be
I don’t need saving
Don’t need a hand
If I need a hero
I’ll be my own man

[Final Chorus (big but controlled]

You say I’m not pretty
Well maybe
Not for you
I don’t got a model body
Yeah, that part’s true
But baby, now you know
I finally found my breath
I never felt this wanted
Since the day I left
Yeah, I never felt this wanted
Since the day I left
Outro (gentle, almost smiling)
Since the day I left…
Yeah… since the day I left

Soul-pop / Gospel-blues confession confession,male. Raspy, soulful tenor with controlled grit, more spoken, not sung-pre