OLD STUFF

I met this guy once in a bar — long before him ever came into the picture. Chiseled face, perfect suit, broad shoulders, and those eyes. Not my proudest moment in life, but hey... I was a little silly back then, and he was hard to ignore. I knew his reputation — the kind of man who collects hearts and forgets names — but still, I let myself fall.

This song? It’s a wink and a sigh. A little jab at the past.

So here’s to you, Mr. Ladies’ Man — this one’s for you. A mistake I wrote into a melody. 

[Lyrics]

You
A drooling look to stir the eyes
A tingling touch to wake the thighs
A whispered word to bend the heart
A honeyed lie, a work of art
You arrive

But I know the truth

You prowl, these halls like it’s a game
Same smirk same swagger same old name
You scan the crowd for something new
A girl too kind, too soft, too true
You charm, you flirt, you twist, you fake
Another soul for you to break
But I know the truth

Oh baby, don’t fool me with your looks
My eyes won’t bite on sharpened hooks
Oh baby, don’t woo me with your lies
I’ll stab your heart with a thousand sighs
Your vows, are roses laced with thorns
I’ve learned to bleed and not be torn
Each trick you play—I see right through
The mask is off—I know it’s you
The real you
The real you

You glide, through shadows straight to me
A smirk like smoke and mystery
Your voice is honey, thick and slow
You lean in close, you start to show
You speak of fate and nights ahead
My better judgment starts to shred
But I know the truth

Oh baby, don’t fool me with your looks
My eyes won’t bite on sharpened hooks
Oh baby, don’t woo me with your lies
I’ll stab your heart with a thousand sighs
Your vows, are roses laced with thorns
I’ve learned to bleed and not be torn
Each trick you play—I see right through
The mask is off—I know it’s you
The real you
The real you

Do I still know the truth?

Oh baby, just fool me with your looks
Let me be caught on sharpened hooks
Oh baby, just woo me with your sighs
I’ll drown in you a thousand highs
Your vows, still roses wrapped in thorn
But maybe pain was how I'm born
Each mask you wear, I’m drawn into
The real you or maybe two
The real you or maybe two

Gosh, this heart, this night—they're yours to break
I’m yours to ruin, come, take
I know the truth—
But want the lie
So take me once, before goodbye

The truth of... you

This song is a reflection of what I feel and experience. It began with my original concept, was created with the assistance of AI, and then meticulously refined by me to capture the essence of my emotions.

If I Had You

Etta Jones

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