[Verse 1]
I learned to smile with a war in my chest
Turn all my losses into something I possess
They see the coldness, they don’t see the scars
Don’t know how many times I rebuilt who you are
I keep my secrets underneath my tongue
Play with the darkness like it’s something fun
You think you know me from the way that I look
But baby, I’m a story you could never read like a book
[Pre-Chorus]
I don’t let anybody get too close
I’ve loved enough to know how love can go
So if I let you underneath my guard
Just know you’re standing somewhere dangerous and dark
[Chorus]
I’m a dark little artist
With a storm in my veins
I’ve walked through the hardest
And grown stronger from pain
I may seem cold-hearted
While the whole world is flames
But somewhere in the darkness
My heart still remains
My mind is a beautiful place
Full of secrets I carefully trace
But if you’re lucky, I just might let you see
What hides behind nightmares and dreams
[Verse 2]
Don’t mistake my silence for having no heart
I’ve just gotten good at keeping people far
Every goodbye left another mark
Now I make pretty little paintings from the pieces that were dark
I can be poison, I can be sweet
I can make you feel like you’re the only thing I need
But loving me is like walking through the night
You might get lost, or you might finally see the light
[Pre-Chorus]
I don’t let anybody get too close
I’ve loved enough to know how love can go
But something in the way you say my name
Makes me want to take these walls down anyway
[Chorus]
I’m a dark little artist
With a storm in my veins
I’ve walked through the hardest
And grown stronger from pain
I may seem cold-hearted
While the whole world is flames
But somewhere in the darkness
My heart still remains
My mind is a beautiful place
Full of secrets I carefully trace
But if you’re lucky, I just might let you see
What hides behind nightmares and dreams
[Bridge – Soft, Intimate]
Maybe I’m not as cold as I pretend
Maybe I just don’t know how to begin
Maybe beneath the madness in my head
There’s a little girl still scared of being left
So if you want me
Don’t try to save me
Just hold me gently
When I get hard to love
[Final Chorus – Bigger]
I’m a dark little artist
With a storm in my veins
I’ve walked through the hardest
And grown stronger from pain
I may seem cold-hearted
While the whole world is flames
But somewhere in the darkness
My heart still remains
My mind is a beautiful place
Full of secrets I carefully trace
But if you’re lucky, I just might let you see
What hides behind nightmares and dreams
[Outro – Whispered]
Behind the nightmares and dreams
There’s more of me than you’ve seen
If you’re lucky, I just might let you see
What hides behind nightmares and dreams…