Through Their Eyes

[Spoken Intro] They say parents see the best in us... But what if their best version of us Is killing who we really are? [Verse 1] Dad shows photos to his friends "My son," his voice with pride extends Mom calls daily just to check If I'm the man they still expect While my kids draw family scenes Where daddy's smile means what it means Three generations' hopes combine To shape this mask I wear as mine Till I forget what's real beneath [Chorus] Through their eyes I'm something great A perfect son who can't relate To the stranger in my head Who screams in silence on my bed Their love becomes another cage Where I perform upon life's stage A role that's slowly killing me While they refuse to really see The truth behind these tired eyes [Verse 2] Parent-teacher conference time I play my part and toe the line Perfect father, perfect son While inside I want to run From all these roles I have to play These expectations day by day That weigh like stones upon my chest Until I can't take time to rest In the truth of who I am [Bridge] Late at night I sometimes stare At family photos that we share And wonder if they'd love me still If they could see behind the skill Of this performance art I've made Of keeping all their hearts unscathed [Verse 3] My daughter asks why daddy cries When he thinks no one sees his eyes My father speaks of legacy While I drown in anxiety My mother's dreams of who I am Become the bars of this program Where I exist but cannot live Where I take but cannot give The truth that might set us all free [Spoken Outro] Maybe the real tragedy isn't failing their expectations... But succeeding at being someone we're not, Until we forget who we really are.