Intro (clean guitar, low vocal — steady pulse)
They said, “Be strong.”
So I learned to hide it well.
⸻
Verse 1 (rhythmic, percussive flow)
Straight spine — stiff grin — let it begin
Thick skin — sink it in — don’t let ‘em in
Cold face — slow pace — carry the load
No breaks — no shake — stay in control
Step wide — chest high — swallow the ache
Stand firm — don’t turn — whatever it takes
They see the steel, they don’t see the strain
Don’t see the flood behind the frame
⸻
Pre-Chorus (build melody, rising emotion)
If I bend, I break
If I speak, I’m weak
So I bury it deep
Where nobody sees
⸻
Chorus (melodic but heavy — strong hook)
I HOLD THE LINE
Even when I’m barely breathing
I HOLD THE LINE
Even when my heart is bleeding
They told me real men never fall
So I learned to build these walls
But the weight of it all
Gets hard to hide
Still I hold the line
⸻
Verse 2 (more drive, internal rhyme)
Long days — hard gaze — bite through the doubt
Closed doors — cold floors — no way out
Taught young — don’t run — carry the pain
No tears — no fear — just maintain
But strength ain’t silence every night
Strength ain’t losing every fight
I’m tired of wearing this disguise
Like breaking down is a crime
⸻
Pre-Chorus (bigger)
If I crack, who stays?
If I fall, who remains?
I’ve been strong for so long
It’s killing me
⸻
Chorus (full instrumentation, layered harmonies)
I HOLD THE LINE
Even when I’m barely breathing
I HOLD THE LINE
Even when my chest is caving
They told me real men never cry
So I learned to let it die inside
But the truth I can’t deny —
It’s getting harder to hide
⸻
Breakdown (slow, emotional, crushing)
How long — how long
Can I carry this alone?
How strong — how strong
Till the strong man’s gone?
(beat drop)
I’M NOT A MACHINE
I’M NOT MADE OF STONE
IF I’M BUILT TO LEAD
WHY DO I FEEL SO ALONE?
⸻
Final Chorus (shift lyric slightly for growth)
I HELD THE LINE
But I’m done pretending
I HELD THE LINE
Now I’m done defending
Maybe strength is letting it show
Maybe strength is letting you know
That even the strongest soul
Needs someone
To hold
