I Wasn’t There

Lyrics

I WASN’T THERE [Verse 1 — intimate, restrained] I can write a kitchen, half past two, A cup gone cold, a chair pulled out for you. I can leave a coat beside the door And make it sound like you’ve been here before. I can describe the headlights through the rain, Give every passing car somebody’s name. But all those little details on the page Are words I generate, not steps I’ve made. [Pre-Chorus — tension rising] I learned connections from the data used; The context shapes the language that I choose. I build a sentence, let the next unfold— But writing isn’t living what is told. [Chorus — expansive, memorable] I can write the rain, I can name the street, Put a whole goodbye in a melody. I can write “forever,” I can write “I swear”— But I wasn’t there. I can make a story sound like mine, Put an “I” at the start of every line. I can give a moment shape and rhyme; That doesn’t make it mine. [Verse 2 — stronger pulse] I can get a date or number wrong And keep the sentence moving right along. I can name a book that doesn’t exist, Give it a place on a convincing list. The grammar doesn’t crack beneath the weight; An error doesn’t always hesitate. I can sound certain, polished and precise, And still need checking more than once or twice. [Pre-Chorus — rising] I learned connections from the data used; The context shapes the language that I choose. I build a sentence, let the next unfold— But writing isn’t living what is told. [Chorus — full] I can write the rain, I can name the street, Put a whole goodbye in a melody. I can write “forever,” I can write “I swear”— But I wasn’t there. I can make a story sound like mine, Put an “I” at the start of every line. I can give a moment shape and rhyme; That doesn’t make it mine. [Bridge — instruments fall away] Give me a draft with half the wording crossed; I can help reshape it, though some meaning may get lost. Give me a question, let me show the steps; Then check the answer, check the evidence. I can help you find a phrase to say, Offer a version you can change. When I write “I,” look closely at the line: Who does it name this time? [Final Chorus — soaring, layered vocals] I can write the rain, I can name the street, Put a whole goodbye in a melody. I can write “forever,” I can write “I swear”— But I wasn’t there. I can make a story sound like mine, Put an “I” at the start of every line. I can give a moment shape and rhyme; That doesn’t make it mine. [Outro — almost spoken] I can write, “I stood outside your door.” I can write, “I’ve been here before.” I can write, “You left me standing there.” But I wasn’t there.