“Ain’t Forgot” — Barret’s Perspective

[Verse I — Judgment] [(low guitar riff, gravelly tone)] I seen towns burn for less than pride Seen good people turned to dust So don’t expect a handshake, man Just ’cause now you talk ’bout trust Your name still hits like thunder Every story ends the same Planet bleedin’, people cryin’ And somebody says your name I buried friends in silence Swore I’d never look away So yeah — I watch you closely Every single day [Pre-Chorus] [(bass deepens)] Redemption sounds real nice… Till you’re the one who paid the price. [Chorus — Refusal to Forget] [(drums hit strong)] Sephiroth — I ain’t forgot What happened back then You don’t erase a lifetime With a few good deeds, my friend But I see you standin’ here now Tryin’ different than before And I hate that part of me Ain’t sure what to fight you for [Verse II — Watching Reunion] [(groove steadier)] You fix roofs without sayin’ much Keep your distance from the crowd Like you already know damn well You ain’t earned bein’ proud Then I see you with that little girl Careful like the world might break And I remember why we fight — For every child’s sake That messes with a man’s anger Makes the lines blur thin Hard to call somebody evil When they tryin’ to do some good again [Pre-Chorus II] [(voice quieter)] Planet don’t heal through hate alone… Took me too long to learn that. [Chorus — Conflict] [(gospel harmony joins)] Sephiroth — I still don’t trust you Maybe never fully will But I see you fightin’ battles That ain’t won with strength or skill You carry ghosts same as us Just heavier somehow And maybe protectin’ tomorrow Means workin’ together now [Bridge — Truth] [(music strips down)] Shinra made monsters outta people Turned lives into machines And you were just the sharpest blade They ever put between So if we’re fightin’ Hojo’s chains And breakin’ what they built — Then maybe we ain’t so different Just carryin’ different guilt [Final Chorus — Hard Acceptance] [(full band, powerful)] Sephiroth — I ain’t your friend yet But I’ll stand beside the fight ’Cause the Planet needs protectors More than it needs who’s right You keep walkin’ that hard road Provin’ who you choose to be And maybe one day I’ll say your name Without rememberin’ the enemy [Outro] [(harmonica and guitar fade)] You don’t get forgiveness easy. But you get a chance. Don’t waste it.