[Intro: sparse detuned piano, low restrained female voice] Another label? You never get tired, do you? [Brief mocking laugh] Tell-a-tell [Verse 1: controlled anger, close and clearly articulated] One mistake — incompetent Next mistake — irrelevant Never taught me, still you testified What a fine assessment from a secondhand mind Pass the rumor, add another lie Say it enough and suddenly it’s right? Slap a scrap of paper on my name Then stand there acting like you know my game [Pre-Chorus 1: mocking delivery, gradually accelerating] Labeling, libeling Your whole damn standard is sickening Drunk on the lies that you’re living in I’m still deciding if you’re listening Talking loud but knowing nothing Never watched me, still you’re judging Laughing safely from the back row Tell you, “Peel it” — watch you backpedal Caught red-handed, now you’re stuttering Cornered once and suddenly you’re mumbling Hide your face and keep on trembling I can see through everything [Chant: rapid, increasingly unstable] TELL TELL TELL TELL TELL TELL TELL TELL TELL TELL Tell-a-tell, tell-a-tell I just laugh — tell-a-tell [Chorus 1: powerful clean belt, brief growl only on “tear it off”] DE-LABEL — tear it off You put it there, so tear it off Before you touch the label on me I’ll rip that false face off completely DE-LABEL — get your hands away Don’t price my life with words you made “Useless,” “hopeless,” “not enough” Who gave you the right to write me off? [Post-Chorus: half-time beat, commanding voice] Get down, get down Kneel for every time you looked down With the mouth that passed your sentence Go ahead — beg me for forgiveness [Verse 2: lighter theatrical rhythm, smiling contempt] Flatter, flatter, gather and chatter Rebecca playing Hollywood actress Smiling on cue, perfectly practiced Behind the curtain, rotten and plastic Round of applause — what a saint Following every line you were trained to say But kill the lights and strip the stage Nothing remains but an ugly shade [Pre-Chorus 2: clipped rhythm, sharper consonants] Kissing up, slipping out Wagging your tail when the boss comes around Playing the saint, but the mask won’t stick Every little layer is peeling off quick Panicking? Shaking yet? Where’s that confidence you had a minute ago? Still laughing? Keep laughing I can see your knees already collapsing [Chant: taunting call and response] Tell-a-tell, tell-a-tell I’m doing fine — tell-a-tell Tell-a-tell, tell-a-tell DE-LABEL suits you well [Chorus 2: stronger attack, wider melody] DE-LABEL — tear it off You put it there, so tear it off Before you touch the label on me I’ll rip that false face off completely DE-LABEL — now it’s peeling away I see what’s hiding underneath your face Thought you’d always stand above me? Too bad — now the tables have changed [Breakdown: all instruments stop, cold authoritative voice] Don’t get it twisted I didn’t come here asking for your pardon I came here to hand down your sentence [Long silence] Guilty [Heavy beat slams back] [Final Chorus: alternating powerful clean voice and brief controlled growls] DE-LABEL — tear it off You put it there, so tear it off Before you touch the label on me I’ll rip that false face off completely Labeling, libeling Your so-called justice is sickening Crying now? Apologizing? Begging me to show you mercy? Get down, get down Kneel before the truth right now With the eyes that priced and judged me Look up from the floor beneath me Get down, get down Kneel for every time you looked down Take those words and choke them back Don’t you ever raise your head again [Outro: instruments thin out, calm absolute authority] You picked the wrong one to label [Dry mocking laugh] Tell-a-tell
