Verse 1:
        Abm
To my younger self, I'm writing you from 2012
          B
It's not high school that is killing me, it's my mental health
            Abm
Know you struggle now but brace yourself for these few years of hell
                 Eb                                               -nc-
You'll paint a smile every day but every night, you'll pray for help
Abm
Wish there was something that I could do to save you from what's coming
B
You might be a soldier, but know that your demons built an army
Abm
And they're taking over now, all I see through my tears is black
      Eb                              Abm
Tell mom and dad I love them, but I have to go, no turning back

Pre-Chorus:
                                B
And I know that your heart is aching
                            Abm
I know that you don't know why
                                      B
And you can't stop your hands from shaking

Now you want to die

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

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

Pre-Chorus:
Abm                               B
And I know that your heart was aching
                           Abm
I know that you put up a fight
                                 B
From making it through all the breaking
Eb
Now you feel alive

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