Civil War Under My Skin

[Verse 1]
Wake up swinging at the ceiling
Shadowboxing with my doubt
Every mirror feels accusing
Every scar keeps calling out
Bloodshot eyes on the bathroom halo
Mouth full of rust and blame
Smile stapled to a breaking jaw
Still they say I’m “just the same”
[Chorus]
I’m in a civil war under my skin
Every breath I take
I’m losing again
I’m trying
I’m trying
Can’t you see
But the first one to kill me
Is me
I’m in a civil war under my skin
All this friendly fire burning within
I’m dying
I’m dying just to be
More than the failure
You see in me
[Verse 2]
Bite my tongue ‘til it tastes like metal
Swallow every quiet scream
Play the hero in their story
When I’m sinking underneath
You don’t see the nights I bleed in secret
Trading sleep for one more chance
To be better than the name you gave me
But I’m chained to circumstance
[Bridge]
Every “you’re not enough” in my head
Marches like boots through a minefield of regret
How do I rise when I’m dragged by my past
How do I live when I’m under attack
[Chorus]
I’m in a civil war under my skin
Every breath I take
I’m losing again
I’m trying
I’m trying
Can’t you see
But the first one to kill me
Is me
I’m in a civil war under my skin
Still I lift my fists and I step back in
I’m fighting
I’m fighting just to be
Something tomorrow
Might set free

metal, Aggressive nu metal with male vocals: drop-tuned guitars, chugging palm-mutes and squealing harmonics, hip-hop inflected verses over punchy, gated drums, choruses explode with layered screams and sung hook, bass locked to kick with gritty saturation, brief half-time bridge with filtered vocal then full-band slam back in., nu metal