Verse 1
On paper it’s perfect, hard to deny,
Every box checked, every reason why.
Moved up quick, stayed in my lane,
Learned how to win, learned how to play the game.
Long weeks turned into steady pay,
Less uncertainty, more “you’re doing great.”
But silence hits when the day is through,
And I’m left wondering who I grew into.
Pre-Chorus
I did what was smart, I did what was right,
Just didn’t ask how it’d feel at night.
Chorus
I’m doing well, at least that’s the line,
From the outside it looks just fine.
Climbed the ladder, earned my place,
Still don’t feel like I recognize my face.
What’s a bigger check if it dulls your spark?
What’s success if it leaves you dark?
If this is winning, explain to me
Why it doesn’t feel like me.
Verse 2
I don’t hate the work, I respect the grind,
It shaped my discipline, sharpened my mind.
But fulfillment doesn’t come with a raise,
And purpose doesn’t live in busy days.
I learned stability, learned control,
But somewhere I stopped feeding my soul.
I’m not ungrateful, I’m just aware—
There’s more to life than being prepared.
Pre-Chorus
There’s a difference between safe and true,
Between being needed and being you.
Chorus
I’m doing well, at least that’s the line,
From the outside it looks just fine.
Climbed the ladder, earned my place,
Still don’t feel like I recognize my face.
What’s a bigger check if it dulls your spark?
What’s success if it leaves you dark?
If this is winning, explain to me
Why it doesn’t feel like me.
Bridge
Maybe loving what you do is the point,
Maybe joy isn’t something you postpone.
I don’t need easy, I don’t need fast,
I just don’t want to wake up asking
How long I’ve been living someone else’s plan.
Final Chorus
So if I step away, it’s not defeat,
It’s choosing alignment over the seat.
I’ll trade the climb for something true,
For work that sounds like my own voice too.
Let it look risky, let it disagree—
I’d rather build a life that feels like me.
ToastyMusic
