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Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I put the hurt in my cheek
Like it’s part of my face
Same grin every week
Same lie in the place
Clock in, nod, act cool
Even when my chest caved in
You see the shine on the school
Not the war that’s under my skin
I know how to fold it tight
Hide the bruise in my tone
Make the hard days look light
So nobody knows I’m alone
[Pre-Chorus]
But the mirror don’t miss
It knows what I’ve hid
Every crack in my lips
Says I’m tired of this
Still I breathe, still I try
Still I stand in the rain
If I can fake it tonight
Maybe I can break the chain
[Chorus]
Painted smile, painted smile
I’ve been hurt for a while (for a while)
Painted smile, painted smile
I’m still here in the pile
Hold me up, hold me up
I’m still learning to breathe
Painted smile, painted smile
Don’t look past me, just see me
[Verse 2]
Mama said “boy, let it go”
But the grief had a name
It sat cold in my bones
And it answered to shame
I laughed loud in the room
While the room went gray
Kept my tears out of view
Made the night look like day
I was built from that pose
From the mask and the nod
From the “I’m good” I would throw
Like a prayer to a wall
[Pre-Chorus]
But the mirror don’t miss
It knows what I’ve hid
Every crack in my lips
Says I’m tired of this
Still I breathe, still I try
Still I stand in the rain
If I can fake it tonight
Maybe I can break the chain
[Chorus]
Painted smile, painted smile
I’ve been hurt for a while (for a while)
Painted smile, painted smile
I’m still here in the pile
Hold me up, hold me up
I’m still learning to breathe
Painted smile, painted smile
Don’t look past me, just see me
[Bridge]
One day I’ll say it plain
No costume, no shield
Let the truth take the frame
Let the wound get healed
If I fall, let me fall
I don’t need to perform
I was never that small
I was just weathering the storm
[Chorus]
Painted smile, painted smile
I’ve been hurt for a while (for a while)
Painted smile, painted smile
I’m still here in the pile
Hold me up, hold me up
I’m still learning to breathe
Painted smile, painted smile
Don’t look past me, just see me
Details
GeneratedAug 1, 2026
Duration4:08
LanguageEnglish
Style
Boom-bap rap at a slow head-nod tempo with haunting piano chords, dusty vinyl crackle, deep kick-snare pocket, and a hopeful lift in the chorus; verse rides sparse drums and lonely keys, pre-chorus opens with rising harmony pads and a filtered piano run, chorus hits with fuller bass, stacked vocal doubles, and a brighter turnaround. Close-mic lead vocal with cracked, intimate delivery, whispered ad-libs in the corners, short delay throws on the hook word, tape hiss and reverse piano swells between sections, crisp but dusty mix with warm low end., emotional, rap, slow
Credits
Prompt byObsidianAudio
ModelAria v5.5
Prompt
Emotional rap about hiding pain behind a smile. Slow boom-bap, haunting piano, vinyl crackle, hopeful chorus.
