The Man That Came Back Lyrics – Jessie Murph

The Man That Came Back Lyrics Meaning

[Verse 1]
This part shows the singer’s earliest memories as a child, just six years old, caught in a household filled with fear and chaos. She was terrified, running through the house in her nightgown while her father raged and her mother tried to calm things down. The TV was turned up loud to cover the noise, but it didn’t help. The house always smelled like alcohol and smoke, and that smell stuck with her. She could tell how the night would go just by looking at him—his mood always set the tone, and it was never good. Nights like these were normal for her, and it left a deep mark.

[Pre-Chorus]
Now he’s claiming he’s changed, saying he’s a new man. But no matter what he says, the person he used to be shaped her completely.

[Chorus]
She can’t forget the painful things he did. She remembers seeing him drunk, passed out in the car, the violent nights, and the terrifying sounds of police sirens. The worst part wasn’t even the chaos—it was watching her mother’s heart break over and over. Now he’s back after being gone, saying he’s sober and found religion, trying to reconnect with the family. But she still carries so much anger and pain. She doesn’t care about his new faith because he can’t undo the past. If he wants forgiveness or understanding, he’ll need to take it up with God, not her.

[Verse 2]
Nine years ago, things had gotten really bad. There was broken glass, constant fear, and her mom couldn’t take it anymore. She didn’t want to leave, but staying meant watching him slowly destroy himself. Eventually, she had to walk away for her own survival.

[Pre-Chorus]
He insists that he’s changed and won’t be that same person again. Still, the damage he caused is part of who she is now and always will be.

[Chorus]
She’s still haunted by the same memories—seeing him passed out, the violent nights, and hearing sirens. The heartbreak her mother went through is something she’ll never forget. Even though he’s come back saying he’s a new man, clean and religious, she still can’t bring herself to forgive or accept him. He doesn’t get why she’s still angry, but in her eyes, some things just can’t be undone. If he wants peace or answers, he’ll have to bring that to God.

[Outro]
In this final part, she makes it clear that forgiveness isn’t something she’s ready or willing to give. There’s too much damage—he broke their family, hurt her mother, affected her brother, and left her with emotional scars that shaped how she sees the world. She doesn’t trust people because of him. The physical bruises, the emotional wounds, even the broken walls in the house—they’re all still there in her memory. So while he might feel like he’s changed, she puts all that weight and guilt on him to carry to God, because she’s not the one who can fix it.