"Daddy" lyrics

I never really told nobody this
But I've been bleeding since a child from a wound I can't fix
One day I had a daddy, the next day I didn't
And the world kept turning, but mine just didn't

They said you were gone, I didn't understand
Just thought I'd see you tomorrow
Thought I'd hold your hand
But I woke up to silence
And that silence grew

It built the woman I am, broken
Searching for you

It hurts more now than it did back then
I was too young to know what I'd never have again
No daddy to call, no arms to run to
Just a lifetime of silence and a heart cut in two
I've been bottling these tears, all these wasted years
Every step I took, I carry June 2002
The day you left, I've been screaming inside
But nobody hears it, I just learned to survive
Ooh-ooh

I built walls 'cause I had no one to run to
Made choices I regret 'cause I didn't have your truth
Mama did her best, but there's a hole she couldn't fill
'Cause only you could've taught me
What it means to heal

I needed your voice when the world got loud
I needed your pride when I made you proud
Instead, I'm haunted by a love I never got
And the pain just deepens with every thought

Daddy, can you hear me? Do you see me now?
Do you know the pain your absence carved out
I wonder who I'd be if you stayed at my side
If you wiped my tears, if you checked my pride
I'd still talk to you when the nights get long
Still hope you're the reason I find the strength to move on

But I'm still that little girl broken in the chest
Still carrying the weight of the day you left

It hurts more now than it did back then
I was too young to know what I'd never have again
No daddy to call, no arms to run to
Just a lifetime of silence and a heart cut in two
I've been bottling these tears, all these wasted years
And it kills me, 23 years, ah

I never heal, I just learn how to hide
But the truth is, Daddy
I'm still broken inside
And it hurts me more than ever
After 23 years