She Used to Be Mine was written by Sara Bareilles for the Broadway musical Waitress, which debuted in 2015. The song is performed by the character Jenna, who expresses her regrets and desires while reflecting on her life. The song has become one of Bareilles most popular songs, praised for its poignant lyrics and powerful vocal performance.
Key: F
F
It's not simple to say
C
That most days, I don't recognize me
Dm
That these shoes and this apron That place and its patrons
Bb
Have taken more than I gave them
F
It's not easy to know
C
I'm not anything that I used to be although
Dm
It's true, I was never attention's sweet center
Bb
I still remember that girl
F
She's imperfect but she tries
C
She is good but she lies
Dm
She is hard on herself
Bb
She is broken and won't ask for help
F
She is messy but she's kind
C
She is lonely most of the time
Dm
She is all of this mixed up and
Bb
baked in a beautiful pie
F
She is gone but she used to be mine
F
And it's not what I asked for
C
Sometimes life just slips in through a backdoor
Dm
Bb
and carves out a person and makes you believe it's all true And now I've got you
F
And you're not what I asked for
A7/C#
If I'm honest I know I would give it all back
Dm
for a chance to start over
Bb
And rewrite an ending or two for the girl that I knew
F
Who'd be reckless just enough
C
Who'd get hurt but who learns how to toughen up
Dm
When she's bruised and gets used
Bb
By a man who can't love And then she'll get stuck
F
And be scared of the life that's inside her
A7/C#
Growing stronger each day 'Til it finally reminds her