We Chose Each Other

Intro

(ooh, ooh) uh-huh, yeah

(na-na, na-na) ah-ah

Verse

We grew up on the same cracked street, same summer sun

You wore my sister's old jacket; I called you my best one

Carved both our names in the elm by the corner store

Two kids with scraped knees, each day wanting more

Your dad taught you to throw like a man, my mama taught me to stand

Then a rumor jumped the fence and a line was drawn in sand

At school we traded lunch for secrets, kept each other's plans

At night we swore we'd never let those lines hold our hands

Pre-chorus

They drew the map, colored the sides, said pick a side, be brave (be brave)

They spread the tales like wildfire, but we met in the cave (shh)

We learned to speak in glances, in the dark we would behave (uh-huh)

Like nothing that they said could ever teach us how to hate

Chorus

They said "choose a side" — we chose each other, we chose each other (we chose each other)

They said "keep your distance" — we held on tighter, we held on tighter (we held on tighter)

We were born like strangers under names that burned like thunder

They drew the line, we crossed it — we crossed it for each other

We chose each other, we chose each other

Verse

At family dinners, knives of words sliced through the room

Your mother kept her eyes cold, like winter in June

Neighbors took bets on feud, on which tilt we'd fall to

But we learned how to laugh quiet and how to slip right through

You left me notes in hollow trees, I left you breath on glass

We built a tiny kingdom where the past couldn't trespass

They staged their phone calls, made sure the rumor would last

But your hand in mine was louder than the headlines of the past

Pre-chorus

They taught us how to hate slow, to carry grudge and weight (carry weight)

We traded secret maps and plans and met by the old gate (meet me)

We practiced stealing mornings, we practiced breaking fate (break fate)

Like nothing that they said could teach us how to stop

Chorus

They said "choose a side" — we chose each other, we chose each other (we chose each other)

They said "keep your distance" — we held on tighter, we held on tighter (we held on tighter)

We were boxed with labels, told our names would never wander

They drew the line, we crossed it — we crossed it for each other

We chose each other, we chose each other

Bridge

So we ran at midnight, laughing through the rain (ha)

Left letters on the porch saying we won't play their game

Packed two bags, one small car, no looking back, no shame

Said "we'll write our story in a script without a name" (without a name)

Your hand was warm, my heart was loud, the road was ours to claim (ours to claim)

We found a tiny house with cracked paint and a stubborn flame

We planted beans and stubborn flowers, called them by our names

And every Sunday morning we invited the past to stay — and watch us rise

Chorus

They said "choose a side" — we chose eac