[Intro | soft piano, warm guitar, atmospheric]
[Both | whisper]
You say you know me...
You fell for a picture in your mind,
But I'm not here to become your design.
[Verse 1 | whispered, close-mic, intimate]
[Female]
"Lower your voice, don't say too much,
Don't make that choice, don't be so tough."
You love my fire when it warms your hands,
Then call it dangerous when I make my plans.
[Male]
You say, "Be different," like different means better.
You hand me rules written on invisible letters.
You love my confidence until I disagree,
But you can't love a version of me you created.
[Pre-chorus | building vocals rising, deep bass]
[Female]
Don't tell me who I'm supposed to be...
[Male]
Don't put your expectations over me...
[Both]
You can want me,
You can leave me,
But you don't get to remake me.
[Chorus | powerful, layered vocals, cinematic strings swell]
[Both]
Don't change me, don't break me,
Don't turn my colors into something hazy.
I won't disappear just to make you stay,
I won't lose myself to fit your frame.
If you love me, love me honestly,
Don't change me.
I'm already who I'm meant to be.
[Verse 2 | slightly stronger, growls, more confident]
[Male]
I used to think your approval was gold,
Something I needed just to feel whole.
I folded my edges, softened my voice,
Let you turn my identity into your choice.
Not anymore, now I'm standing tall.
You don't get to decide which pieces belong.
[Female]
Silence isn't always peace,
Sometimes it's how we disappear.
So I'll say what I mean, I'll keep my truth right here.
You wanted perfection, I gave you the truth.
You wanted control, now I'm choosing me.
[Male | low growl]
You're looking at me like I'm someone new.
[Female | confident]
No...
I'm finally showing you!
[Pre-chorus 2 | layered harmonies, ad-libs, high/low contrast]
[Male | low]
Don't tell me what I should become...
[Female | high]
I know exactly where I'm from...
[Both]
You can hold me close,
But you can't hold the reins.
You can know my heart,
But you don't own my name.
[Ad-libs]
No, no, no...
Not anymore!
[Chorus | anthenic, full arrangement]
[Male]
Don't change me, don't break me,
Don't turn my colors into something hazy.
I won't disappear just to make you stay,
I won't lose myself to fit your frame.
[Female]
If you love me, love me honestly,
Don't change me, you don't get to edit my soul,
You don't get to rewrite what I know.
Every dream, every scar, every part of me
Is exactly what makes me... me.
[Bridge | stripped back, solo guitar, raw emotion]
[Both | soft]
Maybe we were never meant to agree,
On every little piece of who I should be.
[Male]
Maybe loving someone means letting them breathe.
[Female]
I don't need your permission...
[Male]
I don't need your approval.
I'll still know who I am!
[Outro | fade, gentle, resolving]
[Female | whispered]
Don't change me...
[Male | low whisper]
Don't change me...
[Both]
Love me as I am,
Or let me go free.
This is me...
[Both | whispered]
Don't... Change me...