The man Inever became.

Verse 1 At seventeen I had the whole world drawn Every road was mine to travel on I swore I’d never bend, I’d never break I knew exactly what my life would make I saw my name in lights above the crowd Heard a thousand voices calling loud But years have ways of changing every plan And dreams don’t always make the measure of a man Pre-Chorus I spent so long chasing who I thought I had to be I never saw the man that life was making out of me Chorus I’m not the man I said I’d be When seventeen was staring back at me I never touched the stars I used to chase Or saw the whole world recognise my face But I stood my ground when hope gave way I learned to rise and face another day Every wound and every choice I made Built the man I never became Verse 2 I’ve watched some friendships disappear with time And crossed a few too many warning lines I’ve hurt the ones who only wished me well And carried things I never learned to tell I’ve had to look into the mirror’s eyes Without the shelter of my old disguise No medals hang upon these tired walls But I was there each time somebody called Pre-Chorus Maybe strength was never standing where the whole world sees Maybe strength was staying when it would be easier to leave Chorus I’m not the man I said I’d be When seventeen was staring back at me I never touched the stars I used to chase Or saw the whole world recognise my face But I stood my ground when hope gave way I learned to rise and face another day Every wound and every choice I made Built the man I never became Bridge I thought a man was measured By the battles he could win By the money in his pocket By the armour on his skin But I’ve seen courage in forgiveness I’ve seen honour in defeat I’ve learned the strongest hearts are sometimes The ones that quietly bleed So let the young man in that photograph Keep the future that he planned He could never understand the life That taught this boy to be a man Breakdown I lost some years I lost my way I left some dreams Where they could not stay But I kept my word When it cost me everything And I became more than I ever thought I’d be Final Chorus I’m not the man I said I’d be When seventeen was staring back at me I never touched the stars I used to chase But I found something time could not erase I stood my ground when hope gave way I held the ones I loved and chose to stay Every wound and every choice I made Built the man I never became No, I never found the life I thought I’d claim But I’m not ashamed of who I am today Let the past keep every promise that it made I became the man I never knew I’d be Outro Not the man I dreamed about Not the name I meant to make Something stronger rose instead The man I never became