Stay Anyway

“Stay Anyway”

There’s a photograph on my phone

You don’t even know I saved

It’s you laughing in the kitchen light

Hair falling on your face

You were talking ’bout some other guy

Like you always do

And I played my part, the good old friend

Like I always do

You say I’m the one you trust

The one who’ll never leave

If you ever saw inside my chest

You wouldn’t recognize me

’Cause I love you more than I should

More than a brother ever could

But if that’s all I’ll ever be

Then that’s who I’ll be happily

I’ll toast to every new romance

Help you pick out your wedding dress

And hide the breaking in my face

If loving you means I just stay

You call me when you’re falling apart

I drive over at 2 a.m.

You cry about the things he said

I say he’ll change again

And when you fall asleep on my shoulder

I don’t dare to move

’Cause holding you that close to me

Is the closest I’ll get to the truth

You say I’m like your family

Your safe and steady ground

If loving you’s a quiet war

I’ll never make a sound

’Cause I love you more than I should

More than a brother ever could

But if that’s all I’ll ever be

Then that’s who I’ll be quietly

I’ll cheer you on from the back row seat

Clap when he sweeps you off your feet

And break where no one else can see

If loving you means loving silently

Bridge (Soft, Confessional)

Maybe in another world

I’d reach across and take your hand

Tell you every hidden word

Let you finally understand

But I’d rather lose my chance with you

Than lose you altogether

(Stripped Down)

So I’ll love you more than I should

More than a brother ever could

And if forever’s not for me

I’ll still be what you need me to be

’Cause your smile is worth the ache

Every silent heart I break

And if my peace is loving you

Without you loving me…

I’ll stay anyway.