(Opening – low beat, bass rumble) In rooms with no windows, under fluorescent glare Where the air tastes like static, and defeat hangs in the air Midnight, gettin’ uptight, where are you? You said you’d meet me, now it’s quarter to two They pull the strings with a practiced smile, and a voice that's cold and clean They tell you what you're worth now, and what your worth has always been Hey Jack, it’s a fact they’re talkin’ in town I turn my back and you’re messin’ around (Pre-Chorus – tension builds) I think of you ev’ry night and day You took my heart, then you took my pride away And the lie gets heavy, and the chain goes taut… You feel the fraying in every thought. (First Hook – merged, call and response) CUT THE STRINGS FROM LOVING YOU! (Let the puppets fall!) CUT THE STRINGS FROM LOVING YOU! (Silence shattered, breaking walls!) I hate myself for loving you Can’t break free from the things that you do I wanna walk but I run back to you That’s why I hate myself for loving you… (Verse – story deepens) For every "honey" laced with poison, every "joke" that drew a flinch For every door held closed to you, left begging in the pinch Hey, man, bet you can treat me right You just don’t know what you was missin’ last night I’m over bein’ angry ‘bout the hell you put me through… I wanna see you beggin’, say “forget it” just for spite (Pre-Chorus – tightening) I think of you ev’ry night and day You took my heart, then you took my pride away So let it build, a tidal wave… You are not the one to save. (Bridge – a raw, repetitive confession. Music strips to a pounding pulse) I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU… (The final, sick confession) I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU… (The root of the obsession) I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU… (Now scream it at the ceiling) I… HATE… MYSELF… FOR. LOVING. YOU. (Climax – Two beats of silence. Then, a chaotic, explosive release.) SO CUT IT! (CUT THE STRINGS!) CUT HIM OUT! (FROM LOVING YOU!) I WANNA WALK! SO I'M WALKING THROUGH! THAT'S WHY! I HATE! MYSELF! FOR! LOVING! YOU! (Final Chorus – Anthemic and unified) CUT THE STRINGS AND LET THE PUPPETS FALL! SILENCE SHATTERED, BREAKING WALLS! I HATE MYSELF FOR LOVING YOU! BUT I'M CUTTING THE STRINGS FROM LOVING YOU! CUT THE STRINGS AND LET THE PUPPETS FALL! SILENCE SHATTERED, BREAKING WALLS! I WANNA WALK—AND I'M WALKING THROUGH! THAT'S WHY I HATE MYSELF… (Music cuts dead.) …for loving you. (Outro – Slow, triumphant heartbeat of a new rhythm) (Beat) …Cut. (Beat) …Strings. (Beat) …Cut. (Final chord fades to silence.)
