Paper Crowns

[Verse 1]
You sign your name
Like a storm on glass
Smile in the flash
Shake every hand so fast
Gold on your wrist
But your eyes stay cold
Call it “just business”
While you carve up souls
[Chorus]
All your paper crowns
Cut like broken glass
You build your thrones on bodies
Then you call it “coming up fast”
You turn truth into a weapon
Call the damage “keeping order” now
You’re so small inside that castle
For a king of paper crowns
[Verse 2]
You lock the doors
But you keep one key
Hand it to friends
Say it’s loyalty
You change the rules
When we get too near
Blame it on numbers
Blame it on fear
[Chorus]
All your paper crowns
Cut like broken glass
You build your thrones on bodies
Then you call it “coming up fast”
You turn truth into a weapon
Call the damage “keeping order” now
You’re so small inside that castle
For a king of paper crowns
[Bridge]
One day the ink runs dry
Your cards all fall in line (oh)
Every name you crossed
Reads you your own rights
[Chorus]
All your paper crowns
Fall like burning ash
You built your throne on bodies
Now you’re buried in the crash
You turned truth into a weapon
Now the mirror’s taking aim at you
Can’t hide inside that castle
When the sky sees through you too

Dark alt-pop with male vocals over a sparse, pulsing synth bed and deep sub bass. Verses stay tight and intimate, almost whispered, with dry drums and muted guitar swells. Chorus hits wide with stacked vocals, distorted pads, and a heavier groove that sways more than it slams. Bridge strips down to voice and bass before a final, bigger chorus with extra harmonies and a slightly rougher, angrier tone.