[Verse 1]
You said I’m “too intense”
Then handed me your hurt to hold
Kept my shoulders bent
Under every story you never told
I washed your rage from the dishes
Folded your fears with the clothes
You called it “love” in the good times
Called me “crazy” when I said no
[Chorus]
These are the things I carry
Bloodline
Backbone
Every scar
You keep your crown imaginary
I built the kingdom where we are
I’m not your mirror
Not your mother
Not your cage or quiet ghost
These are the things I carry
And I’m setting them down first
[Verse 2]
You sleep through your apologies
I stay up fixing all the cracks
Counting every small catastrophe
Tied like knots along my back
You walk through doors you never open
I hold the keys
You hold the rules
You get forgiven by the culture
I get labeled “difficult”
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
[low vocal register] I carried your shame
Like it had my name
I carried your doubt
Till it smothered my mouth
[build] I carried your pride
Like it lived in my spine
But this body is mine
This mind is mine
This life is mine (mine, mine)
[Chorus]