Gm
To my younger self, I'm writing you from 2012
          Bb
It's not high school that is killing me, it's my mental health
            Gm
Know you struggle now but brace yourself for these few years of hell
                 D                                               N.C.
You'll paint a smile every day but every night, you'll pray for help
Gm
Wish there was something that I could do to save you from what's coming
Bb
You might be a soldier, but know that your demons built an army
Gm
And they're taking over now, all I see through my tears is black
      D                              Gm
Tell mom and dad I love them, but I have to go, no turning back

[Pre-Chorus]
                                Bb
And I know that your heart is aching
                            Gm
I know that you don't know why
                                      Bb
And you can't stop your hands from shaking

Now you want to die

[Chorus]
                      Gm
If I could tell you everything I know now
                        Bb
I'd tell you that the darkness always fades out
                   Gm
In the end, the light will emerge with no doubt
                      D
You just gotta keep going, baby, don't back down
                       Gm
If I could tell you everything I know now
                         Bb
I'd tell you that the darkness always fades out
                 Gm
In the end, the light will emerge with no doubt
                      D
You just gotta keep going, baby, don't back down

[Verse 2]
        Gm
To my younger self, I'm writing you from 2020
      Bb
You made it through the war and woke up to a new beginning
       Gm
You graduated college
                                        D
Mom and dad are both so proud that you rose up from the ashes
     Gm
A survivor, you are now
Gm
How I wish I could write to the girl back in 2012
Bb
And send her all the light to find her way without losing herself
     Gm
And show her all the things she'll miss
    D
If she don't get a second chance
       Gm
Thank God I'm here today to tell you that you'll make it through the black

[Pre-Chorus]
Gm                               Bb
And I know that your heart was aching
                           Gm
I know that you put up a fight
                                 Bb
From making it through all the breaking
D
Now you feel alive

[Chorus]
                      Gm
If I could tell you everything I know now
                         Bb
I'd tell you that the darkness always fades out
                 Gm
In the end, the light will emerge with no doubt
                       D
You just gotta keep going, baby, don't back down
                      Gm
If I could tell you everything I know now
                         Bb
I'd tell you that the darkness always fades out
                  Gm
In the end, the light will emerge with no doubt
                     D             Gm
You just gotta keep going, baby, don't back down