[INTRO — instrumental, stomping upright bass, tense drums] [VERSE 1 — agitated, heaving] They singing happy birthday in the kitchen right now (right now) And I'm locked in the bathroom, tryna remember how To breathe like a person, not a busted accordion Smile packed in my pocket with the keys I'm ignoring Thirty-two today and the cake got my name wrong Two n's in Brandon — ain't nobody in my lane, gone Three hours of small talk, my face is a rental Wife at the door like baby, you okay? — I'm gentle I lie, I say shrimp, say my stomach, say two minutes Meanwhile the mirror looking at me like who is it [HOOK — cracked, half-yelled] Who is it? Who is it? Man in the mirror, where your mind gone? Who is it? Who is it? Everybody clapping and you still alone [VERSE 2 — whisper cracking up to yell] I got the job, got the girl, got the two-car driveway Got the pants that fit, got a laugh on Friday So why the tape measure come out every morning Measuring myself against a life without warning Dad said men don't crack, they just get quiet So I been real quiet, quiet as a riot Inside — chest like a trash can lid in a gale And I smile so much my back teeth pale Wait — one knock, it's my daughter with a drawing Happy birthday daddy in crayon, all sprawling And the mirror man stops his interrogating 'Cause somebody small out there thinks I'm worth celebrating [VERSE 3 — breath steadier, still raw] So I wash my face, dry it on the good towel Practice my grin till it looks less like a growl Open up the door to the noise and the light Wrong-spelled name on a cake still tastes right And the mirror keeps its secrets, that's the deal that we make You keep mine tonight, I'll keep yours at the lake One more year of showing up, that's the whole parade Blow the candles, make a wish — same wish every age Let the man in the bathroom learn to love the man on the cake Let the man in the bathroom learn to love the man on the cake [HOOK — soft now, almost gentle] Who is it? Who is it? Just a man with a cake and a crayon drawing Who is it? Who is it? Still alone sometimes — but he's coming [OUTRO — sax bursts and fades] (who is it... who is it...) Two n's in Brandon Still my cake
