[Verse 1]
You picked my clothes apart
Like thread by thread
You laughed at my shoes
Then you turned and said
“Try harder, kid”
Like I’m the joke
I practiced my smile
In a cracked bathroom light
I changed my voice
I changed it twice
Still you found
A way to cut through
[Pre-Chorus]
I stood so still
I made no sound
Hoping, praying
You’d calm down
But every nod
Was never enough
Every small piece
Still came up rough
[Chorus]
I can’t please you
I can’t please you
No matter what I do
I can’t please you
I can’t please you
So why do I try for you?
(why do I try?)
(why do I try?)
[Verse 2]
You made my name
Feel small in your mouth
You said it twice
Just to wear it out
I learned your mood
Like weather in my skin
One wrong look
And you’d start again
I took the blame
Like it was mine
Kept my head down
Kept my face aligned
But you don’t want
What I can be
You want me bent
So you can see
[Pre-Chorus]
I wore your rules
Like a borrowed chain
Still you found
More things to shame
So I went quiet
To stay alive
But being quiet
Didn’t make you kind
[Chorus]
I can’t please you
I can’t please you
No matter what I do
I can’t please you
I can’t please you
So why do I try for you?
(why do I try?)
(why do I try?)
[Bridge]
Maybe it’s you
Not me at all
Maybe your hurt
Just wants a wall
I’m done with the bruise
I’m done with the spell
You can keep your verdict
I know myself
[Final Chorus]
I can’t please you
I can’t please you
No matter what I do
I can’t please you
I can’t please you
So I’m letting go of you
(let it go)
(let it go)
I can’t please you
I can’t please you
But I’ll please me now
I can’t please you
I can’t please you
And that’s enough somehow
(yeah, enough)
(yeah, enough)