The Best You'll Ever Do

{verse 1]

We married young in ’82

I was told, “He’s the best you’ll do”

But love came wrapped in threats and fear

“If you leave, I’ll ruin your career”

He said it plain, he meant it too

And I stayed, not knowing what was true

[Verse 2:

He said, “I’d never marry you

If you didn’t have a job to do”

Twenty-three jobs in twenty-eight years

I paid the bills, I dried the tears

He called it business, not romance

I gave my youth, he took his chance

[Chorus]

But I know my truth, I’ve earned my name

I’ve walked through fire, I’ve felt the shame

He and his chaos can’t touch me now

I’ve built my peace, I’ve made my vow

I’m stronger than the storm I knew

Because I know—yes, I know—my truth

[Verse 3]

He bailed on his kids, I stayed awake

I gave them love he couldn’t fake

I think of my girls every other breath

He thinks of them less, and that’s a death

He once said, “You’re smarter than me”

A backhanded truth I now set free

[Verse 4

Since twenty-one I’ve lived on edge

Not dreaming, just surviving the ledge

He had no dreams, so mine were denied

I asked him once, he just replied:

“I never thought about it much”

And that’s the wound, the silent touch

[Chorus]

But I know my truth, I’ve earned my name

I’ve walked through fire, I’ve felt the shame

He and his chaos can’t touch me now

I’ve built my peace, I’ve made my vow

I’m stronger than the storm I knew

Because I know—yes, I know—my truth

[Bridge:

Don’t marry a man with no dream in his chest

Don’t trade your soul for someone else’s mess

You are not a deadline, not a last chance

You are the light, the dance, the stance

Love without respect is just control

And I’ve reclaimed my sacred role

[Final Chorus]

I know my truth, I’ve earned my name

I’ve walked through fire, I’ve felt the shame

He and his chaos can’t touch me now

I’ve built my peace, I’ve made my vow

I’m stronger than the storm I knew

Because I know—yes, I know—my truth

[Outro]

So let them talk, let them spin

I’ve found my strength deep within

He and his psycho wife and mother can’t break through

Because I know—yes, I know—my truth