[Intro — music-box chimes, reversed swell] Once upon a Monday morning, Half past six and barely yawning, Magic mirror, tell me true— Is this really what princesses do? [Verse 1 — sparse plucked synth] Coffee in a paper crown, Bus stop dress, eyes looking down, Glass slippers wouldn't make it far Running late from the parking garage. She had dreams at seventeen, Castle walls and movie scenes, Now she scans her little badge And smiles because the cameras ask. "Good morning!" "Living the dream!" Funny how easy Pretending can be. [Pre-Chorus — glassy arpeggios rise] They said someday she'd be chosen, Someday doors would open wide, But fairy tales forgot to mention You've got bills until the prince arrives. [Chorus — bold hook, stacked vocals] So Cinderella clocks in, Clocks out, Gives the Man her whole day now. Tick-tock! Don't stop! Smile until the numbers drop. Waiting on a carriage That might never come around, So Cinderella clocks in While her crown collects dust at home. [Post-Chorus — playful gang vocal] Bibbidi-bobbidi— Direct deposit! Bibbidi-bobbidi— Please don't stop it! [Bass drop] Cinderella clocks in. [Verse 2 — skittering percussion] Her kingdom is a cubicle, Her dragon's name is Payroll, Her royal ball's at five o'clock If nobody schedules one more call. Prince Charming's on an app somewhere, Holding fish in his profile there, "Entrepreneur. Loves travel. Gym." She swipes left— Perhaps not him. Her mother said, "You'll meet someone." Her boss says, "Can you stay till one?" The fairy godmother missed her train, So she's ordering DoorDash again. [Pre-Chorus — filtered choir] Maybe rescue isn't coming, Maybe no one's on their way, Maybe happily-ever-after Has a 401(k). [Chorus] So Cinderella clocks in, Clocks out, Gives the Man her whole day now. Tick-tock! Don't stop! Smile until the numbers drop. Waiting on a carriage That might never come around, So Cinderella clocks in While her crown collects dust at home. [Bridge — eerie, dreamy; music box detunes] At midnight nothing disappears. No pumpkin. No mice. No prince drawing near. Just tomorrow's clothes laid on the chair, An alarm already waiting there. And she wonders— What if no one finds the shoe? What if nobody comes looking for you? Do you spend your whole life waiting For the story you were promised to come true? [Silence] Then she laughs. Puts the slipper on herself. [Final Chorus — brighter, huge layered vocals] Cinderella clocks in, For now, But she doesn't need permission to get out. Tick-tock! Dreams don't stop! Maybe she's been saving every drop. Maybe there's no carriage, Maybe there's no royal town, Maybe Prince Charming's lost— Or maybe she won't need him now. Cinderella clocks in, Clocks out, Still wears an invisible crown. And if her prince comes someday, He can meet her where she's at— 'Cause she got tired of waiting For somebody else To write the ending out. [Outro — tiny music-box chimes] Once upon a Monday morning... She woke up. Not rescued. Just awake.
