The Blue Shirt

[Verse 1]
You said you liked the blue one, so I wore it through the heat
I learned the corners of your moods, the soft spots of your speech
At dinner I swallowed my reply and passed the salt instead
You called me easy to be with; I called it getting by

[Pre-Chorus]
I kept a ledger no one saw
Of every yes that cost me more

[Chorus]
I made a home inside your comfort
Left no room to turn around
I was everybody’s answer
Till I couldn’t hear my own sound
What a lovely little blessing
To be needed, praised, and kind
What a terrible price to pay
For leaving myself behind

[Verse 2]
I knew your coffee, knew your sister, knew the date you hate
I took the late train home so you could leave at eight
When you asked if I was happy, I said, “Sure, it’s all okay”
Then stood at my own sink with nothing left to say

[Pre-Chorus]
I kept the peace by losing ground
And wore a smile to hide the count

[Chorus]
I made a home inside your comfort
Left no room to turn around
I was everybody’s answer
Till I couldn’t hear my own sound
What a lovely little blessing
To be needed, praised, and kind
What a terrible price to pay
For leaving myself behind

[Bridge: half-time]
You don’t have to hate me
For me to say no
I can love you honestly
And still decide to go
I can leave the plate unwashed
Let the hard truth sit
You can be disappointed
I can live with it

[Final Chorus]
I won’t build my life from favors
I won’t bargain to belong
I can care without surrender
I can stay and still be strong
What a bittersweet blessing
To notice where I crossed the line
I can give with both hands open
And keep one life that’s mine

[Outro]
The blue shirt hangs there by the doorway
This time, I choose what feels like mine