[Verse 1 - strings, close and intimate, walking through a town] I see a face across the road I know The woman who believed the things I said She’s thinner now and something’s gone behind her eyes And I remember everything I fed
I see a man who used to bow to me His hands are shaking at the market stall I did this These aren’t strangers passing through Every broken one I pass was mine to call
[Pre-Chorus - the count begins] I didn’t count them I never thought to count But walking through this town I understand There’s no amount
[Chorus - a vow, not a ledger] Those left behind I see them now The ones I passed through like a storm and didn’t bow to Those left behind I owe them something I don’t know if this lifetime is enough But I will try I will try I will try
[Verse 2 - the old fiends, the white dress as disguise] And then I see them — two who used to serve me Who wore the purple like a second faith They’re laughing at a corner, rougher, darker Still carrying the habits that I made
They look right through me White dress, quiet hands They see a stranger — nothing more Thank god for that I cannot bear the truth yet I’m not ready to explain what I was for
[Pre-Chorus 2] The bleached white dress that shows me who I’m trying to be Is also what makes sure they cannot see Who I was What I was
[Chorus] Those left behind I see them now The ones I passed through like a storm and didn’t bow to Those left behind I owe them something I don’t know if this lifetime is enough But I will try I will try I will try
[Bridge - the weight multiplies, near-spoken] One face becomes a street A street becomes a town A town becomes the years That I carried — And put down on other people’s backs
I thought I was the story I didn’t see the aftermath I thought I was the declaration I didn’t count the cost
Until now Until every face Until I couldn’t walk a road Without recognizing what I lost In someone else’s eyes
[Final Chorus - resolved grief, not relief] Those left behind I see them all The ones who lived through what I was and built themselves from rubble Those left behind I don’t get absolution But I can stay until the trembling stops I will try I will try For every one I find — I will try
[Outro - one step at a time] One at a time That’s all I have One face, one street, one hand One at a time That’s how this works That’s how I’ll understand