A humbled Bobby Brown was the musical guest on Wednesday night’s episode of The Tonight Show With Jay Leno where he unveiled a new song that is reportedly dedicated to the memory of his late ex-wife, Whitney Houston.

The emotional tune, “Don’t Let Me Die,” featured the lyrics, "I didn’t realize that every breath I took was from you ... You were my air.”

The R&B bad boy confessed he “messed up pretty bad,” a likely reference to the turbulent 15-year marriage to the beloved music icon. Before Brown and Houston split in 2007, their union produced daughter Bobbi Kristina and a host of headline grabbing news for the tabloids.

Acknowledging all the drama, Brown sang, “I guess I messed up pretty bad ... I didn’t know who you were ... I didn’t know what we had. Now I’m stuck living in the past ... trying to get the pieces back ... but I guess now you’re gone.”

The song, which will be featured on Brown’s upcoming album, Masterpiece, comes three months after Houston tragically died in a hotel bathroom in Beverly Hills, California. In a recent interview the embattled singer, who has heard his share of criticism since Houston’s passing, called the making of the album a healing process.

"It's what I've been through throughout my life, and just trying to heal myself through music," said Brown.

Masterpiece is due in stores June 4.

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(Photos: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images; Courtesy Sony Records)