Good dolls still breathe

(Verse 1)

In a velvet room with the curtains sewn shut

Dust dances slow where the daylight rots

Teacups cracked with a spiderweb grin

Tiny white gloves with the scarlet stitched in

Music box choking on lullabies

Wind-up hearts with glassy eyes

Footsteps small in the attic crawl

Someone’s living inside the wall

(Pre-Chorus)

Hush now, don’t you cry

Painted smiles never die

Thread and needle, pull you tight

Make you pretty for the night

(Chorus)

Welcome to the dollhouse, darling

Where the quiet ones do the screaming

Porcelain teeth in a sugared grin

We tuck the broken children in

Hold your breath when the lights go dim

Good dolls never fight or sin

Smile sweet underneath the wreath —

Good dolls… good dolls still breathe.

Soft chest rising, barely seen

Prettiest doll in the in-between

Count to ten, don’t let it show

Good dolls breathe so very slow.

(Verse 2)

Paper skin and a carousel spine

Tick-tock fingers keeping time

Marionette knees that bend too far

Cracked china face with a missing star

Whispers sewn in satin seams

Stuffed with needles instead of dreams

Silver bell on a ribboned throat

Ringing when the shadows float

(Pre-Chorus)

Spin once, spin twice

Sugar and spice and a slice of ice

Velvet coffin, cradle small

Mother says we mustn’t fall

(Chorus)

Welcome to the dollhouse, darling

Where the quiet ones do the screaming

Porcelain teeth in a sugared grin

We tuck the broken children in

Hold your breath when the lights go dim

Good dolls never fight or sin

Smile sweet underneath the wreath —

Good dolls… good dolls still breathe.

(Bridge — hushed, almost tender)

Press your ear against the lace

Hear the hush inside her chest

Tiny lungs of velvet thread

Practicing the almost-dead

Rock her gently, don’t wake the seam

She inhales like a broken dream

Stuff the sob back in her sleeve

Good dolls learn how not to grieve

Count the breaths — one, two, three

Pause too long? Just pull the key

Wind her ribs and smooth her wreath

Good dolls only breathe beneath

Not too loud… not through their teeth…

(Final Chorus)

Welcome to the dollhouse, darling

Now you know what we’ve been keeping

Thread your name into the lace

Trade your pulse for a painted face

Hands in your lap, teeth beneath —

Good dolls never show their teeth

Curtain call — don’t try to leave

Good dolls… still… breathe

(Outro)

Wind it tight and close the lid

Pretty little secret kid

Smile wide — don’t make a sound

The nicest dolls are never found.