[start] [Intro: Instrumental only] [Verse 1] on the veranda: linen, silver, practiced smiles my father checks his watch; i study the brass rail down the corridor a bass phrase slips through painted walls “staff only” tastes like i’ve been called [Pre-Chorus] they mark it in twos behind the service bell my pulse won’t stay polite i drift where i’m not meant to be and start again—alright [Chorus] tonight i choose the beat, not your blessing tonight my feet say what my mouth kept guessing leave me out of your polished, polite parade i’m done being good when i feel half-made [Verse 2] he teaches truth in a backstage studio, slow and spare “stop apologizing with your shoulders,” hangs in the air we meet when chandeliers stop pretending to behave my dress becomes a lie i learn to misplace [Pre-Chorus] my father’s voice: cold talk in a cut-stone vessel “you owe us form. you owe us class.” but i learned a language inside skin and bone and it won’t kneel, and it won’t phone [Bridge] (stop-time, then swing returns) don’t dance at them—dance for you let their rules stay neat and cruel i meet his stare, i don’t get small i stay right here, i take it all [Final Chorus] tonight i choose the beat, not your blessing tonight the whole place hears my yes, my pressing leave me out of your polished, polite parade i take my name back on the ground we made [Outro: Instrumental] [end]
