[Verse 1 – Male]
They told us
Be tough
Be quiet
Laugh it off
When it cuts
Stay silent
We choke on
“man up
Stay golden”
All the boys in the back row
Numb and swollen
[Pre-Chorus – Male]
We trade our hearts
For a blank expression
Scrolling through
Other people’s heaven
[Chorus – Both]
We’re the broken kids choir (hey)
Singing under burned-out signs
Every halo on fire
Every promise built on lies
They say “you’ll be fine when you’re older”
But we’re freezing while they grow colder
This corrupt little kingdom we’re in
Keeps grinding us down
Down
Down again
[Verse 2 – Female]
They told us
“look nice
Be gentle”
Smile on cue
Hide the temper
Dress us up
For their tiny stories
Girls as props
For somebody else’s glory
They like our pain
As a cute aesthetic
Post our tears
Like it’s poetic
[Pre-Chorus – Female]
We trade our names
For a perfect angle
They call it love
When it’s just a handle
[Chorus – Both]
We’re the broken kids choir (oh)
Singing under burned-out signs
Every halo on fire
Every promise built on lies
They say “you’ll be fine when you’re older”
But we’re freezing while they grow colder
This corrupt little kingdom we’re in
Keeps grinding us down
Down
Down again
[Bridge – Male & Female]
[Beat drops to sparse synth and vocal]
(Male) Are we too loud
For your fragile vision?
(Female) Are we too proud
For your old religion?
(Male) If we’re the cracks
In your perfect painting
(Female) then watch us spread
’til the frame is shaking (yeah)
[Chorus – Both]
We’re the broken kids choir
Raising up our ruined throats
Turn the shame into fire
Carve the truth in every note
You say “you’ll be fine when you’re older”
We say “we won’t wait till it’s over”
This corrupt little kingdom we’re in
We’re tearing it down
Down
Down from within
[Outro – Both]
Just boys and girls
Not your masks
Not tools
Just damaged kids
You taught too well in cruel
(hey) If we’re the price
Of the lies you sold
Then hear our song
As your verdict told