Songwriting Sample

“The Could’ve Been Story”

Melody & Lyrics by Mandi J. Smith

A deeply personal, poetic anthem about release, resilience, and reclaiming your power

VERSE 1:

Beautiful— till the gray sky morning
Dutiful— like a foghorn warning
But I know, I know
It’s a bittersweet offering
To release all the control
And all of the suffering

CHORUS 1:

And I can be your villain, yeah I’ll play that part
But I will stay a rebel, sugaring my scars
Yeah I’ll be enigmatic
I’ll be your tragic

And I can taste the madness from my bleeding heart
But I spit out the fever til the burn departs
Yeah I can be the magic
I’ll be the spark

VERSE 2:

Basketful of springtime mercies
Worshipful call of the carefree
But I know, I know
The ache of the journey
Is the depth to which I grow
And the blessings made for me

CHORUS 2:

Now I can read the weather fore it even starts
And I’ve got an umbrella for the falling shards
Yeah I’ll be the enchanted
I’ll be romantic

And I can cross the oceans when the skies are dark
Cause I’ve lived through the shadow of my deepest parts
My eyes wide in amazement
For a brand new start

​BRIDGE:

In time it goes
In time it goes away
I drank the bottles
To shrink myself away
But through the wilderness
The winding death and bliss
Torn cartilage and risk
I earned my getaway
(Never meant to stay)

​CHORUS 3:

Now I am the dreamer blazing with the stars
And I fashion my ashes into living art
Peace won’t leave me ever
I’m mine forever

And I can see the world from where I finally stand
And I’ll live out the dreams that once slipped through my hands
With each breath of my life
I’m more alive

​OUTRO:

Invisible— you watch from the sidelines
Write me off, or write me in moonlight
But I know, I know
The Could’ve Been Story
Pages full of dreams
Laid to rest on the journey

It was never made for me
I was always destined to be set free