[Verse 1] I keep my grades low Keep my head down too If I get too good They might find a use I know how this works I have seen it before Give them something useful They will always want more So I miss on purpose I take the easy way I could learn the whole thing But I stop halfway They call me lazy I just let them talk Better called a waste Than a thing they can lock [Hook] Mediocre enforcement That is the rule Never get too clever Never get too useful Stay just good enough To say I could try Never get so good That they need me alive Mediocre enforcement I keep myself small If I never climb up I can never fall [Verse 2] I saw what they did To the ones with a gift They gave them more work Then called it a lift The smart get a job The strong get a fight The kind get used up For doing what is right So I learned how to smile While I throw it away I make myself worse A little each day If I know too much I pretend that I don't If I want to do it I tell myself I won't Cause being the best Sounds nice in a song But when people need you You can't just move on [Hook] Mediocre enforcement That is the rule Never get too clever Never get too useful Stay just good enough To say I could try Never get so good That they need me alive Mediocre enforcement I keep myself small If I never climb up I can never fall [Bridge] I painted my face Till the cracks went away Made myself pretty Made myself safe A broken old doll With a coat of new paint People like smart things They don't ask what they ain't So I talk like I know And I laugh like I care It feels good to be clever When nobody is there Intelligence is warm When the real world is cold I can build little walls With the things that I know [Verse 3] Maybe I could be great Maybe that is the curse Cause once they see talent They ask for the work And once you are useful You don't get to rest They put more on your back Then they call you the best I don't want their praise I don't want their gold I don't want to grow up Just to do what I'm told So I stay mediocre I keep my hands clean I ruin every chance Before it can mean [Final Hook] Mediocre enforcement I made it the law If I start getting better I make myself stop Not because I can't Not because I am blind I am scared of the world When it sees what I find Mediocre enforcement My safest disguise A dumb little smile With a sharp little mind I could be something That much I know And that is exactly Why I never grow
