He didn't walk me down no stairs Didn't warn me 'bout them boys who wouldn't care Didn't tell me what a real man sounds like So I fell for the ones that lied just right He never pulled my chair or checked my friends Never showed me what to lose or what to defend So I chase love with an open wound Looking for something I was never introduced to My mama did her best, but she can't teach What it feels like when a father speaks So I took еvery I love you too deep Even whеn they only meant for a week How was I supposed to know what love looked like When daddy never showed me what felt right? How was I supposed to set the bar When I ain't ever seen no man fight for my heart? Now I'm learning through heartbreak piece by piece Tryna be soft in a world that's been hard on me I ain't bitter, just broken in places you can't see How was I supposed to know If he ain't teach me? I thought pain was part of being chosen If he stayed, then the hurt was worth holding I called settling a sign of love 'Cause I ain't know a man should lift me up Know you're beautiful just 'cause I'm his And know I got you when life don't make sense So I let bare minimum feel like gold 'Cause I know I deserve more to hold And mama raised a queen with a wounded crown Taught me strength, but I still let love drag me down 'Cause daddy never gave me that love one on one So I mistook lust for the real one How was I supposed to know what love looked like When daddy never showed me what felt right? How was I supposed to set the bar When I ain't ever seen no man fight for my heart? Now I'm learning through heartbreak piece by piece Tryna be soft in a world that's been hard on me I ain't bitter, just broken in places you can't see How was I supposed to know If he ain't teach me? I needed arms that protected Not ones that neglected Needed truth without games Real love with no pain So now I'll relearn what I missed Unpacking daddy wounds from every kiss But I promise one day I'll be free Of the love that never covered me How was I supposed to know what love looked like When my first man left before I learned to fight? Now I raise my standards like prayers to the sky For the girl I was who needed to know why I still stumble, but now I see The kind of love that was meant for me And I'll teach my daughter what he couldn't show So she'll know