Tug of war

VERSE 1

Used to be cartoons and late night rides
Little hands reaching up holding mine
Now conversations disappear too fast
Pictures fade… unanswered texts stack

I know life changes… people grow apart
Broken homes leave marks on young hearts
But somewhere love got turned into a score
Everybody hurting in a tug of war

PRE-CHORUS

One voice in one ear
Another in the other
Truth gets blurry sometimes
When pain talks louder than love

Never wanted sides
Never asked for a war
I just wanted my kids…
Like before

CHORUS

TUG OF WAR

Used to run to me when the world got hard
Now you look at me like I caused these scars
Somebody changed the picture… changed what you saw
And I’m losing my kids in a tug of war

Still leave the light on… still leave the door unlocked
Still save your numbers… still pray you call
You pull away… I pull with love
And we all fall…

In this tug of war

VERSE 2

Back then respect wasn’t fear or control
It was knowing family carried your soul
Nobody said parents always get it right
God knows I replay mistakes at night

When we become parents… there’s no instruction manual
No map in our hands… no way to be infallible
We love the best we can through the beautiful and painful
Hoping somehow our imperfect love is still enough for you

Children shouldn’t have to choose who survives
Love shouldn’t split into separate lives
Words can poison softer than a knife
Changing memories in real time

PRE-CHORUS 2

One wound becomes two
Then two become generations
Pride builds walls
Silence fills the spaces

I’m not asking perfection
Not asking for more
Just don’t let love drown
In a tug of war

BIG CHORUS / DROP

Pull me left… pull me right…
Love shouldn’t have to choose sides tonight

Telephone cold… memories warm
How did family become a storm?

Still your parent… still your blood
Even through distance… anger… floods

You pull away… I pull for us
Nobody wins…

In a tug of war

BRIDGE

If you ever feel alone
If the whole world turns dark
If you forget my voice someday
Just remember my heart

No history… no anger…
No pride… no closed doors
Could ever make me stop
Holding the rope…

In this tug of war

FINAL CHORUS

Used to run to me when the world got hard
I still keep your place inside my heart

Maybe someday… the silence breaks
Maybe healing’s worth the wait

Till then… I’ll be right here
No matter what came before

Still holding the rope…

In this tug of war

EDM| 2026 dance , Introspective, Sentimental, Tense, Male Vocals, Harmonized Vocals, Bass, Cowbell, Drums, Keyboard, Piano, Rhythm Guitar, Whistle, Fast (120-168 BPM), Driving, Steady, Pulsing