[Verse 1] Daddy comes home when the daylight dies, Drops his keys and avoids my eyes, Turns on the TV, the colors glow, Like a storm that's coming, and I already know. He opens a bottle with a little hiss, Takes a big drink, something tastes like this, Bitter and sharp, I can smell it in the room, And the happy cartoons disappear too soon. [Pre-Chorus] The louder it gets, the smaller I feel, I wish this was a dream, not real. [Chorus] I hate the TV, I hate the light, I hate how it changes everything at night, When Daddy turns it on, the whole house shakes, And another little piece of my heart breaks. I hate the TV, I hate the sound, I hate how nobody talks when it's around, I wish I could turn it off and make us free, I hate the TV... I hate the TV. [Verse 2] Daddy drinks more of that awful Coke, The kind that makes his angry words explode, His face turns red, his voice grows wild, And I hide my tears like a frightened child. Then he starts shouting across the room, All the flowers disappear from the bloom, Mama says nothing, she stares at the floor, And he keeps getting louder than before. [Pre-Chorus] The louder he gets, the harder I pray, For the night to just go away. [Chorus] I hate the TV, I hate the light, I hate how it changes everything at night, When Daddy turns it on, the whole house shakes, And another little piece of my heart breaks. I hate the TV, I hate the sound, I hate how nobody talks when it's around, I wish I could turn it off and make us free, I hate the TV... I hate the TV. [Bridge] Then Mama cries, but nobody knows, Because Daddy turns the volume up so nobody hears, Higher and higher and higher it goes, Trying to drown her tears. The people on the screen keep smiling bright, While our little world falls apart tonight, And I hold my teddy, wishing I could be, Anywhere far from this TV. [Final Chorus] I hate the TV, I hate the light, I hate how it steals my family every night, When Daddy turns it on, the whole house shakes, And another little piece of my heart breaks. I hate the TV, I hate the noise, I hate how it swallows all our voices, I wish Mama could smile the way she used to be, I hate the TV... [Outro - Child Voice, soft and fragile] Daddy, can you hear me? Daddy, please don't yell... Mama's crying somewhere Behind the TV's spell... I hate the TV... I hate the TV... I hate the TV... Please turn it off for me. Please....
