Archangel

[Verse 1]
You wrote my name
In the corner of your comic page
Tiny letters
Right under your face
Called me your blade
But you kept every kill for yourself
Kept all the cameras
Left me on the shelf
[Pre-Chorus]
You said “Kid
Just smile and stand behind”
All my power folded
Tucked inside
Every punch I pulled to fit your frame
Every bruise you laughed away (like a game)
[Chorus]
I’m not your sidekick in the shadows
Not your punchline in the sky
You call me Archangel like a mascot
But these wings were built to fly
I’m breaking off your painted halo
Ripping out your stitched-on crest
I’m done saving your reflection
Time to put my own heart on my chest
[Verse 2]
You tilt the news
Make the battle sound like a joke
When I’m still shaking
From the smoke
You toast yourself
While I scrub your blood from my hands
You call it training
I call it demands
[Pre-Chorus]
You said “Hey
Don’t overthink the pain”
But you never even learned my name
Just your clever brand on every cape
While I’m dreaming how escape might taste
[Chorus]
I’m not your sidekick in the shadows
Not your punchline in the sky
You call me Archangel like a mascot
But these wings were built to fly
I’m breaking off your painted halo
Ripping out your stitched-on crest
I’m done saving your reflection
Time to put my own heart on my chest
[Bridge]
You taught me how to fall
Never how to land
How to take the hit
Never take a stand
But I’ve seen the city
From a higher view
And I don’t need a god
To tell me what to do (hey)
[Chorus]
I’m not your sidekick in the shadows
Not your punchline in the sky
You call me Archangel like a mascot
But these wings were built to fly
I’m breaking off your painted halo
Carving out my own address
I’m done living in your legend
I’ll be my own hero next
[Outro]
Archangel
Not your echo
Archangel
Not your pet
One last look at your horizon
Then I rise past it
No regret

Cinematic alt-pop ballad with female vocals; soft piano and distant pads in the verse, heartbeat toms and wide drums entering for the chorus. Guitars swell in the pre-chorus, then soar with string layers as the hook lands. Second half adds stacked harmonies and subtle distorted bass for grit, ending on a stripped, echoing vocal line.