[Verse 1] Check the set, check my snarl, check the spotlight Warm up the crowd with a staged surprise Every fall’s been mapped like a treasure Every “spontaneous” line revised They didn’t pay to see me stumble They paid to see me land the fall So I bleed on cue, right on the downbeat Give ‘em the realest fake of all [Pre-Chorus] Authenticity is key, they say A costume that you have to wear Once you learn to fake that You’re HALF WAY THERE [Chorus] Kayfabe, punk rock — they bought the whole show Kayfabe, punk rock — so I let ‘em know Every punch I pull still leaves a mark they can feel The realest thing about me is how fake I feel [Verse 2] Trade the grin for a glare on the bridge break Lean in close so they swear I mean it Every ad lib rehearsed into instinct. Every stomp built for the kick drum to eat it They want fire that burns without smoke They want chaos they can dance to in time So I make the mess right where they can see it Every night, by design [Pre-Chorus] Authenticity is key, they say A costume that you have to wear Once you learn to fake that You’re HALF WAY THERE [Chorus] Kayfabe, punk rock — they bought the whole show Kayfabe, punk rock — so I let ‘em know Every punch I pull still leaves a mark they can feel The realest thing about me is how fake I feel [Bridge] It’s not a con, it’s a covenant We both know the truth in the lie I give you my best staged wreckage You give me your hands held high [Final Chorus] Kayfabe, punk rock — they bought the whole show Kayfabe, punk rock — so I let ‘em know Every punch I pull still leaves a mark they can feel The realest thing about this is we both know the deal [fade out]
