(Verse 1)
They wind me up behind the scenes
Say I’m the voice they wish they had
I twitch to life in silver beams
But every word feels secondhand
They cheer when I collapse with grace
Call it brave, like I meant to fall
They paint me bold, they love my face
But I don't recognize it at all
They stitch their hopes into my skin
Like I was made to wear their weight
I play the part they locked me in
Smile wide, and dislocate
(Pre-Chorus)
And maybe I move, but it’s not from will
I bend for crowds I’ll never trust
They call it art when I stand still
But I’m just choking on their dust
(Chorus)
You say I’m gold while I rust inside
You see a light where I feel void
You call it strength every time I hide
But I’m just noise that you enjoy
You love the crash, not the silence after
You want the mask, not the eyes that sting
You worship pain when it comes with laughter
But I’m still dying
And I’m still on strings
(Verse 2)
They lift me high like I should shine
Like I was born to bleed for show
But every gesture isn’t mine
And every line feels hollow, slow
You trace the cracks along my spine
Like they’re the proof I’ve earned your praise
But I’ve been breaking this whole time
And you mistake it for a phase
My limbs don’t bend the way they should
I jerk, I stall, I freeze, I shake
And every time I fake it good
It gets a little more opaque
(Pre-Chorus)
So when you say you see me clear
You're just staring through the glass
You fall in love with what you hear
But never ask if it will last
(Chorus)
(Bridge)
I didn’t choose this body made of wire
Didn’t ask to be a silhouette on fire
You pull the cords and call it grace
But you’ve never seen my real face
There’s a scream behind the stitched-up grin
A truth too raw to let begin
I’ve tried to cut the ties myself
But you keep nailing me to your shelf
(Final Chorus)
You say I’m gold while I rust inside
You see a god when I see doubt
You sing my name like a battle cry
But I’m still trying to claw out
You want the puppet, not the soul
You want the pain that doesn’t sting
You love the myth, not the toll
And I’m still dancing
Still breaking
Still on strings
(Outro – Quiet/Soft)
If I fall and no one claps
Will I finally disappear?
If I stop moving
Will you stop calling it sincere?