Half of Me
Alex Wilson
Description
A deeply personal and evocative Americana ballad, "Half of Me" explores the complexities of conditional love and self-acceptance. Built upon a foundation of Travis-picked acoustic guitar in D minor, the song weaves a tapestry of Appalachian sounds, featuring haunting fiddle melodies, subtle pedal steel textures, and a driving rhythm section that builds from intimate introspection to powerful declaration. Alex Wilson's close-mic'd vocals convey raw emotion, culminating in a powerful key change to E minor in the final chorus. The song's journey from quiet vulnerability to defiant strength resonates with anyone who has felt the sting of partial acceptance and the triumph of embracing their complete self.
Lyrics
[Intro - Fingerpicked acoustic guitar in D minor, slow and sparse, like raindrops on tin] [Verse 1] They want the calluses but not the scars beneath Want the Sunday sermon, not the Saturday grief Love my voice at sunrise, hate it when it breaks Want the mountain honey, not the copperhead snakes They want my strong shoulders when their load gets heavy But turn away when mine start to shake Want these hands for building, not for what they've buried Want the give but never what it takes [Chorus] You can't love half of me And leave the rest to die Can't pick the roses growing wild And curse the thorns that make 'em right I'm the coal dust and the diamond The thunder and the rain You can't love half of me The darkness makes the flame [Verse 2] Want my mama's recipes but not her empty chair Want the fiddle music, not the funeral prayer They love my bootstraps, hate hearing 'bout the holes Want the preservation jar but not what's been preserved in my soul They want the revelation, not the years of doubt Want the healing water, not the poison well Want to hear redemption but not what I'm redeemed from Want the heaven but won't walk through my hell [Chorus] You can't love half of me And leave the rest to die Can't pick the roses growing wild And curse the thorns that make 'em right I'm the coal dust and the diamond The thunder and the rain You can't love half of me The darkness makes the flame [Bridge - Music drops to just guitar and voice, building slowly] I am my father's fists and my mother's grace Every scar that marked me, every saving embrace I'm the boy who hid beneath the floorboards singing And the man who learned to stand and face (Everything that tried to break me) (Made me who you see today) [Final Chorus - Full arrangement, key change up to E minor] So love all of me Or set this whole thing free These mountain bones weren't made to bend To fit what you need me to be I'm the whiskey and the water The sinner and the saint You can't love half of me The darkness makes the flame No, you can't love half of me The darkness makes... the flame [Outro - Return to fingerpicked guitar, slowing, ending on an unresolved suspended chord]