Lyric

You stood there

By the kitchen light

With your coat half on

And your eyes turned tired

I had a sentence

Somewhere in me

But it came out

Small and wrong

I wore a colder voice

Than I meant to wear

Let the room decide

What I could not say

You gave me time

I gave you nothing

Just the sound

Of trying not to break

[Pre-Chorus]

I have replayed

That quiet door

A hundred ways

Since you were gone

Each better line

Arrives too late

Like morning light

On an empty chair

[Chorus]

Now I know the words

I should have tried

The softer road

I left behind

I had the room

But not the light

I had your face

But not the courage

I did not need

Another chance

I needed one

Kinder sentence

[Interlude]

[small organ, acoustic guitar, brushed drums]

[Verse 2]

I hear it now

While the kettle sings

While my hands stay still

At the sink

One simple truth

With no defense

No clever shape

To hide inside

I should have said

You were not asking

For a battle

Just my heart

But I was busy

Saving myself

From looking weak

In front of love

[Pre-Chorus]

I thought the ending

Needed silence

Thought restraint

Would make it clean

But silence keeps

The wrong things living

When the right ones

Never breathe

[Chorus]

Now I know the words

I should have tried

The softer road

I left behind

I had the room

But not the light

I had your face

But not the courage

I did not need

Another chance

I needed one

Kinder sentence

[Bridge]

If I could stand

There one more time

I would not ask

To start again

I would not turn

Your healed-up life

Back toward a door

You had to close

I only want

The final minute

To hurt you less

Than it did

But wanting that

Is still a want

And you owe nothing

To my learning

[Final Chorus]

Now I know the words

I should have tried

The softer road

I left behind

I had the room

But not the light

I had your face

But not the courage

I did not need

Another chance

I needed one

Kinder sentence

It came to me

After the goodbye

I almost said it right