[Intro – soft, spoken] They only hear the loud ones… The rest of us? We learned how to bleed quiet. ⸻ [Verse 1] I grew up in a folder, name on a line Case numbers instead of birthdays and time They said “be grateful,” handed me rules But the bad kids got attention, I just learned to be cool They loved the noise, hated the calm Rewarded the chaos, ignored the alarms I was the kid in the corner, back straight, polite But surviving ain’t loud, it’s a silent fight Teachers praised the trouble, said “at least he speaks” I got gold stars for never showing I was weak But nobody asks why the quiet one’s numb Why the smile looks stitched instead of coming from lungs ⸻ [Hook / Chorus] Paper crowns on broken heads They cheer the fire but not the thread Kids who scream get help, I guess Kids who cope just learn to dress Their wounds in smiles, their pain in grace Invisible scars on a polished face I don’t cry, I just survive But survival ain’t living — it’s staying alive ⸻ [Verse 2] Foster walls echo with names that fade You’re a file, not a future, just a choice they made You behave? You’re fine. You rebel? They care. So I learned real quick life ain’t fair They say “good kids win,” but that’s a lie Good kids just learn how not to cry We don’t break plates, we break inside Then they wonder why we don’t confide I watched loud anger get therapy seats While silent trauma got told “take a seat” I wasn’t violent, I wasn’t bold I was just a kid growing up too old ⸻ [Hook / Chorus] Paper crowns on broken heads They cheer the fire but not the thread Kids who scream get help, I guess Kids who cope just learn to dress Their wounds in smiles, their pain in grace Invisible scars on a polished face I don’t cry, I just survive But survival ain’t living — it’s staying alive ⸻ [Bridge – slower, emotional] No medals for manners No cheers for restraint No spotlight for healing Just “you’re fine” and “you ain’t” But the quiet ones carry the heaviest loads Walking straight lines on crumbling roads ⸻ [Verse 3 – stronger, defiant] Now I speak for the kids who learned how to fold Who got praised for being “mature” at years old We ain’t angels, we just learned control While the system sold pieces of our soul You gave us beds, but not belonging Rules, but no one for the longing We survived storms you never saw Now we’re grown with invisible scars ⸻ [Final Hook – louder, empowered] Paper crowns turn into steel Quiet hearts finally heal We ain’t weak — we’re real Survival’s strength they couldn’t steal You praised the fire, ignored the flame But the silent ones rewrite the game We’re still here, we still rise Not just surviving — we’re claiming our lives.