Some damage doesn’t come with drama . . it comes with silence. With the kind of abandonment that leaves people aching without even realizing why. Left in the Wake is about finally seeing someone for who they were all along . . and choosing to stop carrying the weight they left behind.
This song came from a place of reflection, written years after cutting ties with someone who caused deep, lasting harm. Not just to me, but to my kids. It’s about emotional manipulation, about recognizing the con for what it was, and finally stepping into the clarity of truth. There’s no bitterness left . . just facts. Just freedom. For anyone who’s had to rebuild after someone walked out and never looked back, this one’s for you.
You had a way of making me feel small
Built the walls so high, I missed the fall
Told myself that love meant holding on
But I was just a pawn in your con
Played my fears like a melody
Every note, just a trick up your sleeve
I gave my heart, gave my trust, gave it all
You lit the match and watched it fall
Now the smoke is clearing, I can see
Wasn’t love, it was make-believe
Every moment, every word, just a scene
You wrote the script, but I broke free
You left a wake, left a mess
Left the ones who loved you less
Took and took ‘til there was nothing left
Now you’re just a name I don’t confess
No more chains, no more weight
Not a scar, not a trace
I don’t grieve, I don’t break
You’re just someone I escaped
My kids don’t even say your name
How many years gone, you’re still to blame
Left ‘em reaching out to empty air
Like you were never even there
Played my fears like a melody
Every note, just a trick up your sleeve
I gave my heart, gave my trust, gave it all
You lit the match and watched it fall
Now the smoke is clearing, I can see
Wasn’t love, it was make, believe
Every moment, every word, just a scene
You wrote the script, but I broke free
No dull ache, no slow burn (ooh)
No regret, just lessons learned
No more questions, no more doubt
I know exactly who you are now
You left a wake, left a mess
Left the ones who loved you less
Took and took ‘til there was nothing left
Now you’re just a name I don’t confess
No more chains, no more weight
Not a scar, not a trace
I don’t grieve, I don’t break
You’re just someone I escaped
You had a way of making me feel small
But now you’re nothing, nothing at all