[Verse 1]
You tied my shoes again
I was thirty-one
Hands on my collar
Like I’m still your son
You answered for me
At the kitchen door
Took every sharp word
Before I hit the floor
[Pre-Chorus]
You kept the world outside
Like a locked black gate
Fed me your fear
Till it turned to hate
[Chorus]
Mother smothered
Let me stand
Mother smothered
Unclench your hand
Mother smothered
I bleed for air
Mother smothered
You kept me there
[Verse 2]
You hung my future
On a bedroom wall
Pinned it like a moth
Too weak to crawl
You said, “Stay with me”
When I touched the night
You wrapped your panic
Around my life
[Pre-Chorus]
Every lesson was
Don’t you leave the nest
But a grown man breaks
When he’s never blessed
[Chorus]
Mother smothered
Let me stand
Mother smothered
Unclench your hand
Mother smothered
I bleed for air
Mother smothered
You kept me there
[Bridge]
I am not your wound
I am not your vow
I am not the child
You can silence now
I was born to rise
With my own two feet
Not a ghost in lace
At your trembling knees
[Final Chorus]
Mother smothered
Let me stand
Mother smothered
Unclench your hand
Mother smothered
I choose the dark
Mother smothered
And I choose my mark
Mother smothered
Hear me now
Mother smothered
I break this vow