Looked myself in the eyes for the first time in a while
Tried to play the victim but I couldn't keep the smile
Every story needs a villain and I made her mine
But if I'm being honest I was out of line
I'd shut down when it hurt instead of saying so
I'd blow up when I felt it starting to let go
Nobody showed me how a real man holds it together
And I have never tried to be better
Who taught me how to love like this
Who showed me what a real man is
Guess I had to lose it all to find what I missed
I see it now looking back at what I put us through
Took losing her to finally see the truth
Can't build a man on nothing, had to start from scratch
Mirror talk every night til I get myself back
My father wasn't there to show me how to stay
Learned to love from boys who never learned to face their pain
Thought being cold meant being strong, kept my feelings locked
Thought control was love and openness was getting caught
She needed presence and I gave her walls instead
Now I'm sitting with the weight of everything unsaid
Who taught me how to love like this
Who showed me what a real man is
Guess I had to lose it all to find what I missed
She didn't break me, I was already cracked
Just easier to blame her than to own what I lacked
I see it now and there ain't no going back
I see it now looking back at what I put us through
Took losing her to finally see the truth
Can't build a man on nothing, had to start from scratch
Mirror talk every night til I get myself back