Alone Behind These Eyes

[Verse 1]
They all say I'm the funny one
Cracking jokes in the checkout line
Shake my hand, say "man you're strong"
Then drive off, leave me behind
I wave back from my front porch
Coffee cup and a practiced smile
But this house turns to hollow
Once I'm alone awhile
[Chorus]
No one knows how alone I am
They only see the show I play
I'm the life of the weekend plans
I'm the ghost come Monday
If they could hear the quiet
When the porch light finally dies
They'd know how alone I am
Alone behind these eyes
[Verse 2]
Mama calls just to talk about church
Says the preacher asked for me
I say "yeah, I'll try to make it"
But I hang up and stare at the TV
These four walls know every secret
Every bottle on the bedroom floor
I keep laughing in the daylight
Then lock up one more door
[Chorus]
No one knows how alone I am
They only see the show I play
I'm the life of the weekend plans
I'm the ghost come Monday
If they could hear the quiet
When the porch light finally dies
They'd know how alone I am
Alone behind these eyes
[Bridge]
If I let it slip, would they turn away? (oh)
If I said I'm not okay
Or would somebody sit here
In this heavy, heavy air
[Chorus]
No one knows how alone I am
They only see the show I play
I'm the friend they call at 2 a.m.
But I'm the one that never gets saved
If they could hear the quiet
When the last "goodnight" runs dry
They'd know how alone I am
Alone behind these eyes

country, Slow, tear-stained country ballad with male vocals; brushed drums and soft upright bass under a warm, slightly detuned pedal steel that cries on the turnarounds. Intimate acoustic guitar up front, verses almost whispered; chorus opens with doubled lead and low harmonies. Subtle organ pad swells in the bridge, then everything drops to vocal and guitar for the final chorus line., sad, male vocals