If tomorrow stayed away

[Intro (spoken, close mic]

When the room gets quiet
And the lights go low
That man in the mirror…
Yeah… I don’t always know him

Verse 1
If tomorrow stayed away
Would I still get up, face the day?
Spent half my life running from ghosts
Half telling lies to the ones I loved the most
I loved too hard, I lost more than I planned
Holding my mistakes like dust in my hands

[Chorus (warm but heavy]

Would I be proud of the life I made?
Or haunted by the bridges I let fade?
If the sun went down for the final time
Would I ask for one more night to change my mind?
Yeah…
If tomorrow stayed away

[Verse 2 (confessional]

There’s a kid I used to be calling my name
Saying “get up, man,” but I stay the same
The man I am just wonders why
I swallow tears when I need to cry
I felt kindness but I let it die
Had the words, but I stayed quiet
Sometimes I think a softer heart
Could’ve kept someone from falling apart

[Chorus (fuller, emotional]

Would I be proud of the life I made?
Or haunted by the bridges I let fade?
If the sun went down at the end of the day
Would I beg for one more chance to change?
Yeah…
If tomorrow stayed away

[Bridge (spoken - sung, gospel-blues]
Maybe heaven ain’t up in the sky
Maybe it’s learning how to forgive your life
Redemption’s calling from deep within
When you stop running
And face who you’ve been

[Final Chorus (big, raspy, reflective]

Would I be proud of the life I made?
Or haunted by the bridges I let fade?
If the lights went out and the world turned gray
Could I lay it all down unafraid?
Yeah…
If tomorrow stayed away

[Outro (bare, breathy)]
If tomorrow stayed away…
Yeah…
If tomorrow stayed away…

Soul-pop / Gospel-blues confession
Male, raspy soulful tenor
Close-mic, half-spoken, half-sung