[Verse 1]
I stay close, then I back up
Hands in my pockets, black cup
Got a whole speech in my chest
Still I lock up when you ask me what's next
Raised on "don't cry," "don't tell"
Learned to wear a hard face well
Now I bite words back too quick
And the silence in me always sticks
[Pre-Chorus]
I wanna get it right
I wanna stay and fight
For the truth in my throat
For the love I don't know
If I miss, I miss
If I slip, let me fix
I ain't proud of the walls
I'm just scared when they fall
[Chorus]
I wanna talk right
(yeah, I wanna talk right)
I wanna love right
(yeah, I wanna love right)
Don't let me fold up
Don't let me go cold
I'm trying to grow up
I'm trying to grow old
[Verse 2]
My old man had a heavy stare
No soft words, just bills and stairs
Told me men don't ask for much
So I swallowed every hurt I touched
Now I stand in a room full of care
But the brave part of me isn't there
I rehearse like a prayer in my head
Then I lose it the second it's said
[Pre-Chorus]
I wanna get it right
I wanna stay and fight
For the truth in my throat
For the love I don't know
If I miss, I miss
If I slip, let me fix
I ain't proud of the walls
I'm just scared when they fall
[Chorus]
I wanna talk right
(yeah, I wanna talk right)
I wanna love right
(yeah, I wanna love right)
Don't let me fold up
Don't let me go cold
I'm trying to grow up
I'm trying to grow old
[Bridge]
If I go quiet, pull me in
Don't let my bad days win
I'm learning how to stay
Even when words run away
I don't need perfect
I need honest and earnest
I need your hand when I shake
I need a chance to remake
[Final Chorus]
I wanna talk right
(yeah, I wanna talk right)
I wanna love right
(yeah, I wanna love right)
Don't let me fold up
Don't let me go cold
I'm trying to grow up
I'm trying to grow old