[verse 1] i'm sorry for the way i spoke and sorry that i led with sorry i know an early show of guilt can take the oxygen from your story i'm sorry that i noticed that before you had the chance to say it and sorry that by naming it i found another way to play it you don't have to tell me i'm defensive i've already made that observation which i realize is itself a preemptive invalidation [pre-chorus] and i don't want a medal for admitting i was wrong though i notice that i mentioned not wanting one in song [chorus] sorry for the self-awareness sorry that i'm sorry so well every time i find a blind spot there's another one to tell i can see the strings i'm pulling i can name the sleight of hand and i know that saying "i know" is another way to take command oh, i'm sorry for the self-awareness it's a gift i shouldn't give i keep making you forgive me for the way i say i did [verse 2] i know i'm centering my feelings in a conversation about yours and i know that pointing that out doesn't even up the scores i could stop and let you speak but then i'd seem performatively quiet and if i tell you that's my worry well, i've started another riot i'm aware that i'm exhausting and that sounds like self-deprecation which invites you to reassure me so i'll preempt that obligation please don't tell me i'm a good man i don't want that consolation though refusing your forgiveness is a subtler invitation [pre-chorus] i've been trying to be humble but humility's a trap every time i step outside it i draw you a better map [chorus] sorry for the self-awareness sorry that i'm sorry so well every time i find a blind spot there's another one to tell i can see the strings i'm pulling i can name the sleight of hand and i know that saying "i know" is another way to take command oh, i'm sorry for the self-awareness it's a gift i shouldn't give i keep making you forgive me for the way i say i did [bridge: solo piano, suddenly slow and vulnerable] i hurt you. [long silence] and i know that letting silence follow something plain and true makes it seem like i've discovered how to finally get through and i know that naming THAT puts the spotlight back on me and i know that now you're watching someone watching himself grieve [voice nearly breaks] i wish i could just mean it without hearing how it sounds i wish i could stop digging when i've already found the ground [brief silence] [spoken, quietly] that was actually pretty good. [final chorus: full band, overlapping harmonies, escalating counterpoint] sorry for the self-awareness sorry that i'm sorry so well every time i find a blind spot there's another one to tell i can see the strings i'm pulling i can name the sleight of hand and i know that saying "i know" is another way to take command [backing vocals overlap: "i know that you know / i know that i know / i know that knowing doesn't help"] sorry for the self-awareness sorry for the way i cope sorry that i made my apology another little source of hope [outro: instruments fall away one by one; vocal becomes almost conversational] i know this isn't about me and i'm sorry that it is and i'm sorry that i'm sorry and i'm sorry that i— [abrupt silence] [spoken, after a beat] ...would it help if i started over?
