Looking in

I grew up watching headlights fade

From a front porch cracked by yesterday

Everybody had somewhere to be

I had dreams and a beat-up hope in me

They said, “Keep your head down, play it safe”

But safe never fit the shape of my name

I learned early how to stand alone

When the crowd feels close but you still feel cold

Every door feels locked when you don’t belong

Every mirror tells you what they got wrong

I’ve been looking in through the windowpane

Hands on the glass while they scream my name

I don’t fit in their perfect lines

I was born on the wrong side of the bright lights

If this is winning, I’ll take the doubt

I’d rather burn than fade it out

Yeah, I’ve lived my life from the outside

But I’m still here, and I’m still loud

V[erse]

I made friends with the sound of doubt

Late-night thoughts I couldn’t shut out

Everybody’s got a map to fame

Mine’s just scars and a different way

They love you when you play the part

Smile wide, don’t show your heart

But I’ve been bleeding truth in ink

While they sell dreams they don’t even think

I won’t trade my soul for a borrowed crown

I’d rather fall than be tied down

I’ve been looking in through the windowpane

Hands on the glass while they scream my name

I don’t fit in their perfect lines

I was born on the wrong side of the bright lights

If this is winning, I’ll take the doubt

I’d rather burn than fade it out

Yeah, I’ve lived my life from the outside

But I’m still here, and I’m still loud

Let ‘em talk, let ‘em stare

I learned strength in the wear and tear

If I’m broken, I built myself

Out of everything they left on the shelf

I’m not lost, I just chose my way

Not afraid of another gray day

I’ve been looking in through the windowpane

But I cracked the glass and I felt no shame

I don’t need their golden lines

I’ll light my own fire in the dead of night

If this is winning, I’ll take the scars

They remind me of who we are

Yeah, I lived my life from the outside

Now I’m kicking in the door tonight

From the outside…

But not for long.