I Still Remember That Girl

Oh, my goodness, I love this song. I just heard it for the first time on a new Pandora station (Brandi Carlile) and had to look it up so I would understand it and why it was written. Turns out it was written for me! And millions of other women like me. Of course, I'm not the waitress in the Broadway play that the character in the song reflects, but believe me, I am that girl.

She Used to Be Mine    by Sara Bareilles

[Verse 1]
It's not simple to say
That most days I don't recognize me
That these shoes and this apron, that place and its patrons
Have taken more than I gave them
It's not easy to know
I'm not anything like I used be, although it's true
I was never attention's sweet center
I still remember that girl

[Chorus 1]
She's imperfect, but she tries
She is good, but she lies
She is hard on herself
She is broken and won't ask for help
She is messy, but she's kind
She is lonely most of the time
She is all of this mixed up and baked in a beautiful pie
She is gone, but she used to be mine

[Verse 2]
It's not what I asked for
Sometimes life just slips in through a back door
And carves out a person and makes you believe it's all true
And now I've got you
And you're not what I asked for
If I'm honest, I know I would give it all back
For a chance to start over and rewrite an ending or two
For the girl that I knew

[Chorus 2]
Who'll be reckless, just enough
Who'll get hurt, but who learns how to toughen up
When she's bruised and gets used by a man who can't love
And then she'll get stuck
And be scared of the life that's inside her
Growing stronger each day 'til it finally reminds her
To fight just a little, to bring back the fire in her eyes
That's been gone, but used to be mine
Used to be mine

[Refrain]
She is messy, but she's kind
She is lonely most of the time
She is all of this mixed up and baked in a beautiful pie
She is gone, but she used to be mine


Now, here's the incredible good news. A miracle if you will. The fire is back in my eyes. I'm not stuck anymore. I've asked for help and I am rewriting the ending.