The Illusion I Believed

[Intro – clean guitar, distant reverb]
I tried to be the better man…
But the better man gets buried alive.

[Verse 1 – steady build]
I gave respect to everyone I met
Held my tongue when the anger crept
Bit my teeth through every lie
Watched my worth just pass me by

They said “be strong, be kind, be patient too”
But kindness just became something to use
Every promise that I kept
Turned into another debt

[Pre-Chorus – tension rising]
And I keep asking in the mirror
What the hell I’m doing wrong
Every scar a reminder
I’ve been carrying this too long

[Chorus – full band, shouted vocals]
It’s hard to be a man in a world that bleeds you dry
Give them everything you are and still they ask you why
I tried to be enough, but enough never stayed
The illusion I believed in is finally starting to fade

And every voice inside my head
Screams “you were right all along”
My demons in the dark keep singing
The same old broken song

[Verse 2 – heavier guitars]
I stood tall when the storm rolled in
While they stabbed my back with a grin
Held the line while the ground gave way
Watched loyalty decay

Every time I opened up my chest
Someone carved their name inside my flesh
Left me bleeding on the floor
Wondering what I’m fighting for

[Pre-Chorus – rising scream]
I hear the whispers getting louder
Every night inside my skull
Telling me the truth I tried
So damn hard to dull

[Chorus – aggressive]
It’s hard to be a man in a world that bleeds you dry
Give them everything you are and still they crucify
I tried to be enough, but enough never stayed
The illusion I believed in is finally starting to fade

And every voice inside my head
Screams “you were right all along”
My demons in the dark keep singing
The same old broken song

[Breakdown – screamed]
I GAVE YOU MY TRUST
YOU TURNED IT TO RUST

I GAVE YOU MY HEART
YOU RIPPED IT APART

How many times do I have to fall
Before I realize I’m nothing at all?

[Bridge – emotional, half clean / half scream]
Maybe the monster in my mind
Was only trying to protect me
Maybe the darkness I denied
Was the only truth that set me free

[Final Chorus – huge, desperate]
It’s hard to be a man when the silence cuts so deep
Carry every broken promise that you swore you’d keep
I tried to be enough, but enough never stayed
The illusion I believed in has completely decayed

And now the voices in my head
Don’t sound so wrong
Maybe my demons knew the truth
All along

[Outro – fading guitars]
I tried to be the better man…
But the better man gets buried alive.

Rock, post hardcore/emo , electronics