[INTRO – soft, atmospheric] [instrumental — distant guitar echoes, low pulse, fading into Verse 1] --- [VERSE 1] I can still taste the moment When the world fell off its track One careless word I never meant And I felt you turning back You tried to hold it together But I saw the fracture start You walked away with tears you hid And it shattered both our hearts --- [PRE-CHORUS] I’m choking on the silence On everything I should’ve said Your shadow’s pulling from my hands Like a ghost that’s never dead --- [CHORUS] All the words I never meant Turned to ashes on my tongue And they burn me when I breathe Like a bullet from a gun Now I’m screaming through the darkness Begging you to come undone ’Cause you love me and I love you But I’m the one who made you run So I’m drowning in the fire Of a heart I set in flames All the things I tried to save you from… Are the things that bear my name Ashes on my tongue… --- [POST-CHORUS Metallica-style solo] (Ashes… ashes… falling from my tongue…) [Guitar + synth riff drop] --- [VERSE 2] Every night is a rerun Of the second you walked out I see the truth behind your steps— It was love mixed up with doubt You never wanted to leave me You just couldn’t take the pain And the weight of knowing that you cared Is what drives me half insane --- [PRE-CHORUS 2] I’m haunted by the moment Where I watched your courage break You left because you loved me And that’s a scar I can’t escape --- [CHORUS 2] All the words I never meant Turned to ashes on my tongue And they cut me when I speak Like the blade I can’t outrun I keep screaming into shadows Hoping somehow you’ll hear one ’Cause you love me and I love you But I’m the one who made you run Now I’m drowning in the fire Of the damage I became Every promise that I threw away… Comes back whispering your name Ashes on my tongue… --- [BRIDGE] [Rap/Speak with Heavy Vocal Blend] [Spoken/Rapped] I’d tear the past apart Rebuild the words I said Trade every breath I’ve got To pull you from the edge I’m a prisoner of the moment Where your heart began to fall I tried to say “I’m sorry,” But regret just ate it all [Sung] I’m swallowed by the silence I’m buried in the blame If love is in the distance Then I’m walking through the flame --- [FINAL CHORUS] All the words I never meant Turned to ashes on my tongue They’re the chains I drag behind me For the damage that I’ve done Still I’m reaching through the darkness Praying somehow you’re not gone ’Cause you love me and I love you But I’m the one who made you run Now I’m drowning in the fire Of a heart I set in flames I can’t undo the moment But I’ll never be the same Ashes on my tongue… Ashes on my tongue… --- [OUTRO, soft, stripped] [Whispered] “All my words are ashes now…” [clean guitar rings out]

Ashes on my Tounge