[Intro – sample, old tape texture, low male voice] “You keep saying this isn’t you… then why do you keep living like it is?” I don’t like who I’ve become (nah) I see the habits, see the damage (mm) See the things I’ve done (uhh) I don’t want to be this person (yeah) Living small to stay safe (mm) I don’t hate myself (nah) But I can’t stay this way (uhh) [Verse 1 – Part A: restrained rock cadence, inward, ad-libs every line] I don’t lash out (yeah) I shut down (mm) Let resentment grow quietly (nah) Under my skin (uhh) I tell myself I’m being mature (mature) When I’m really just scared (yeah) Of saying what I feel (mm) And dealing with it (nah) I compromise daily (uhh) Call it realism (realism) Lower my standards (yeah) So I don’t feel the distance (mm) I don’t wake up proud (nah) I wake up adjusted (uhh) Like I bent so much (yeah) I forgot my shape (mm) [Pre Chorus – pressure tightening] I been excusing this (nah) Calling it survival (yeah) But survival without direction (mm) Ain’t living [Chorus – repeat, unchanged] I don’t want to be this person (this person) I don’t like who I’ve become (nah) I see the habits, see the damage (mm) See the things I’ve done (uhh) I don’t want to be this person (yeah) Living small to stay safe (mm) I don’t hate myself (nah) But I can’t stay this way (uhh) I don’t want to be this person (this person) I don’t like who I’ve become (nah) I see the habits, see the damage (mm) See the things I’ve done (uhh) I don’t want to be this person (yeah) Living small to stay safe (mm) I don’t hate myself (nah) But I can’t stay this way (uhh) [Switch-Up – instrumental shift, distorted guitars hit, drums open up, ad-libs] (yeah!) (uhh!) nah nah nah enough [Verse 2 – Part B: louder, faster, confrontational, ad-libs stacked] I’m tired of explaining (yeah) Why I didn’t try (mm) Tired of defending (nah) Comfort like it’s a crime (uhh) I’m tired of saying “someday” (someday) Like it’s guaranteed (yeah) Like time owe me patience (mm) Like fear ain’t choosing for me (nah) I don’t wanna be polite (uhh) To my own self-destruction (destruction) I don’t wanna normalize (yeah) Living under my potential (mm) If this is who I become (nah) By staying still (uhh) Then movement gotta hurt (yeah) ‘Cause staying already kills (mm) [Bridge – raw, shouted lines over ringing guitar] I don’t need approval (nah) I don’t need permission (yeah) I need to stop protecting (uhh) A version of me I don’t respect (mm) [Chorus – final, unchanged, shouted then pulled back] I don’t want to be this person (this person) I don’t like who I’ve become (nah) I see the habits, see the damage (mm) See the things I’ve done (uhh) I don’t want to be this person (yeah) Living small to stay safe (mm) I don’t hate myself (nah) But I can’t stay this way (uhh) I don’t want to be this person (this person) I don’t like who I’ve become (nah) I see the habits, see the damage (mm) See the things I’ve done (uhh) I don’t want to be this person (yeah) Living small to stay safe (mm) I don’t hate myself (nah) But I can’t stay this way (uhh) I don’t want to be this person (this person) I don’t like who I’ve become (nah) I see the habits, see the damage (mm) See the things I’ve done (uhh) I don’t want to be this person (yeah) Even if change hurt (mm) I don’t hate myself (nah) I just refuse to stay (uhh) [Outro – instrumental strips down, breathing, ad-libs] (mm…) (yeah…) (uhh…) that’s the line I’m not crossing again
