Almost Me [Intro — Dry Organ Motif] [Verse 1 — Low, Close Vocal] I learned to shrink without moving Learned to nod before I knew How to make a room feel easy While I disappeared from view I know exactly when to answer I know what they need to hear I’ve gotten good at being present Without ever being here [Pre-Chorus — Guitar Harmonics Enter] Everybody loves the version That never needs a thing [Chorus — Heavy Half-Time Drums] I’m always almost me Close enough to wear my name I’m always almost me Just far enough to take the blame I can feel somebody breathing Under everything they see I’m always almost Always almost me [Stop-Time] Almost me [Verse 2 — Bass Leads the Groove] I keep my anger in good posture Keep my questions off the page Call it patience Call it growing Call it anything but rage I keep waiting for permission From people waiting too We all become what gets us through it Then forget what made us move [Pre-Chorus] Every small surrender Comes back wearing my face [Chorus] I’m always almost me Close enough to wear my name I’m always almost me Just far enough to take the blame I can feel somebody breathing Under everything they see I’m always almost Always almost me [Post-Chorus — Organ and Guitar Stops] I’m in here I’m in here [Bridge — Five-Beat Pulse, Nearly Spoken] Maybe there is no true version No clean center underneath Maybe I don’t need an answer Maybe I just need release I don’t want to be improved I don’t want another dream I just want to cross the distance Between almost And me [Silence] [Final Chorus — Full Band, Raw Vocal] I’m done being almost me I don’t need to wear the name Of every person I became Just to make it through the day Let them see the hesitation Let them hear my broken speech I’m done being almost Done being almost me I’m done being almost me Not repaired and not complete Just a voice I recognize When it comes out through my teeth I was buried under versions Built from everything they need I’m done being almost Almost me [Outro — Organ Motif Alone] I’m still in here Almost me
