By the Book
dark country, Americana, acoustic guitar, fiddle, stomping beat, electric guitar, female vocals, warm and controlled delivery, subtle irony, steel underneath sweetness, conversational verse, full band chorus, spoken word intro bridge and outro, fiddle screaming final chorus, triumphant ending
MiyaMI·4:32
4:32
By the Book
dark country, Americana, acoustic guitar, fiddle, stomping beat, electric guitar, female vocals, warm and controlled delivery, subtle irony, steel underneath sweetness, conversational verse, full band chorus, spoken word intro bridge and outro, fiddle screaming final chorus, triumphant ending
Creator: MiyaMIRelease Date: March 8, 2026
Lyrics
They say there's a recipe
I wrote it down
Every word
I wore the dress that made him look twice
I kept my voice low, kept everything nice
I learned to bake cornbread by half past nine
I laughed at every joke like it was fine
I smiled and let him think he knew the way
I thanked him like he hung the moon each day
Kept my storms quiet, kept my edges clean
Left him nothing to fix, nothing between
They said be gentle, said be soft
Said let him lead and don't get lost
I took notes
Every single word
I took notes
I cooked the meal and set the table right
I looked my best every single night
I let him feel like he made the call
I let him think he had it all
I kept my power where he couldn't see
Smiled like a woman who was always free
He thinks he found me - bless his heart
Honey, I chose him from the start
I followed every rule they gave
And I won - right down to the grave
I ironed out my jagged edges clean
The softest sharpest thing he'd ever seen
Praised him loud and saved my doubts for me
Admired what he was and chose to be
Healed my wounds before he saw the scars
Showed up whole so he'd never know my wars
Gave him room to stand just a bit taller
Made myself the reason he felt larger
They said be gentle, said be soft
Said let him lead and don't get lost
I took notes
Every single word
I took notes
I cooked the meal and set the table right
I looked my best every single night
I let him feel like he made the call
I let him think he had it all
I kept my power where he couldn't see
Smiled like a woman who was always free
He thinks he found me - bless his heart
Honey, I chose him from the start
I followed every rule they gave
And I won - right down to the grave
The recipe said give your best
I passed every single test
The recipe said let him feel chosen
Every rule - I left unbroken
Never mentioned I'd choose too
Never mentioned what I knew
Every soft word, every smile
Every meal - mine all the while
I cooked the meal and set the table right
I looked my best every single night
I let him feel like he made the call
I let him think he had it all
I kept my power where he couldn't see
Smiled like a woman who was always free
He thinks he found me - bless his heart
Honey, I chose him from the start
I followed every rule they gave
And I won - right down to the grave
(Right down to the grave)
(Right down to the grave)
They say there's a recipe
I followed it
Every word
To the letter
And I won
I wrote it down
Every word
I wore the dress that made him look twice
I kept my voice low, kept everything nice
I learned to bake cornbread by half past nine
I laughed at every joke like it was fine
I smiled and let him think he knew the way
I thanked him like he hung the moon each day
Kept my storms quiet, kept my edges clean
Left him nothing to fix, nothing between
They said be gentle, said be soft
Said let him lead and don't get lost
I took notes
Every single word
I took notes
I cooked the meal and set the table right
I looked my best every single night
I let him feel like he made the call
I let him think he had it all
I kept my power where he couldn't see
Smiled like a woman who was always free
He thinks he found me - bless his heart
Honey, I chose him from the start
I followed every rule they gave
And I won - right down to the grave
I ironed out my jagged edges clean
The softest sharpest thing he'd ever seen
Praised him loud and saved my doubts for me
Admired what he was and chose to be
Healed my wounds before he saw the scars
Showed up whole so he'd never know my wars
Gave him room to stand just a bit taller
Made myself the reason he felt larger
They said be gentle, said be soft
Said let him lead and don't get lost
I took notes
Every single word
I took notes
I cooked the meal and set the table right
I looked my best every single night
I let him feel like he made the call
I let him think he had it all
I kept my power where he couldn't see
Smiled like a woman who was always free
He thinks he found me - bless his heart
Honey, I chose him from the start
I followed every rule they gave
And I won - right down to the grave
The recipe said give your best
I passed every single test
The recipe said let him feel chosen
Every rule - I left unbroken
Never mentioned I'd choose too
Never mentioned what I knew
Every soft word, every smile
Every meal - mine all the while
I cooked the meal and set the table right
I looked my best every single night
I let him feel like he made the call
I let him think he had it all
I kept my power where he couldn't see
Smiled like a woman who was always free
He thinks he found me - bless his heart
Honey, I chose him from the start
I followed every rule they gave
And I won - right down to the grave
(Right down to the grave)
(Right down to the grave)
They say there's a recipe
I followed it
Every word
To the letter
And I won