Forcing Happiness

[Verse 1]
Coffee cup cracked in his hand
Plastic smile ready at dawn
Practiced jokes on the bathroom mirror
Breath shaking
But the mask goes on
Walks past his own reflection
Like a stranger crossing the street
“Morning
Man” to the tired cashier
Heart dragging iron on his feet
[Chorus]
He’s forcing happiness
Till his cheeks burn red
Laughing like a hero
With a war inside his head
If it keeps them from the dark
He’ll ignite himself instead
He’s forcing happiness
On a soul that’s hanging by a thread
[Verse 2]
He’s the one they call at midnight
When the sky caves in on their plans
Stacks their storms on top of his thunder
Says
“You’re safe
I understand”
Every “I’m fine” cuts like metal
Sharp and cold under his tongue
Piano keys in an empty room
Where his own songs go unsung
[Chorus]
He’s forcing happiness
Till his cheeks burn red
Laughing like a hero
With a war inside his head
If it keeps them from the dark
He’ll ignite himself instead
He’s forcing happiness
On a soul that’s hanging by a thread
[Bridge]
How long can one heart counterfeit light?
How long till the cracks all show?
If he laid his armor at their feet
Would anyone want to know?
[Chorus]
He’s forcing happiness
Till his cheeks burn red
Laughing like a hero
With a war inside his head
If it keeps them from the dark
He’ll ignite himself instead
He’s forcing happiness
And he’s so
So close to letting go
So close to letting go

folk, Epic power metal ballad blending speed-metal drums, soaring lead guitars, and chugging rhythm under cinematic piano and acoustic guitar; violin carries a tragic countermelody. Male vocals start intimate over sparse keys and acoustic, then rise into full-throated belting with stacked harmonies in the chorus; double-time sections surge between verses, final chorus modulates up with sustained high note and strings swelling to a dramatic cutoff., acoustic, power metal, happy, metal, violin, ballad, speed metal