3 Doors Down
When I'm Gone Lyrics

There's another world inside of me that you may never see
I have a private inner world that others may not understand or know about.

There's secrets in this life that I can't hide
There are aspects of my life that are not visible or obvious to others, and I struggle to keep them hidden.

Somewhere in this darkness there's a light that I can't find
I feel lost and confused in life, and am struggling to find direction or purpose.

Or maybe it's too far away
It may be too difficult or impossible for me to reach the goal or outcome I desire.

Or maybe I'm just blind
Perhaps I'm not able to see the path forward clearly or objectively, and am therefore making mistakes or struggling to progress.

So hold me when I'm here
I need emotional support and connection from loved ones in my current situation.

Right me when I'm wrong
I'm open to feedback and correction when I make mistakes or struggle with decision-making.

Hold me when I'm scared
I need comforting and reassurance when I'm feeling anxious or frightened.

and love me when I'm gone
I still want to feel loved and cared for, even if my physical presence isn't there to receive it.

Everything I am
My identity and sense of self.

and everything in me
All of my thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Wants to be the one you wanted me to be
I desire to meet the expectations and desires of those I care about and respect.

I'll never let you down
I want to be reliable and dependable for those who depend on me.

Even if I could
Even if I had the opportunity to disappoint or fail, I would choose not to do so.

I'd give up everything if only for your good
I prioritize the well-being and happiness of others over my own personal desires, and am willing to make sacrifices to help them.

You can hold me when I'm scared you won't always be there
I appreciate the support and comfort that others provide me, but acknowledge that they may not always be around when I need them.

When your education x-ray cannot see under my skin
Others may perceive me or my situation in a certain way based on their external observations, but don't have access to my internal thoughts and feelings.

I won't tell you a damn thing that I could not tell my friends
I'm open and honest with those I trust and feel close to, and don't talk about personal matters with those I feel less connected to.

And roaming through this darkness I'm alive but I'm alone
I may feel isolated and alone in my personal struggles or challenges, even though I still have aspects of my life that I find fulfilling or meaningful.

Part of me is fighting this but part of me is gone
I may be experiencing internal conflict or ambivalence about my life, between what I want and what I feel is expected of me.

Love me when I'm gone, whoa
Even though I'm physically absent, I still want to feel love and connection with those I care about.

When I'm gone
Referencing the previous lines, indicating that the themes of the song are still relevant even in my absence.