Strong Enough

(Intro — soft, breathy, close mic) I’m tired… Yeah… Don’t look at me like that… You don’t see it… you never do… --- (Verse 1 — Billie-style, fragile, detached) I’m tired of being the strong one Playing calm when I come undone Every crack, yeah I hide it well Pretty lies in a fragile shell Say I’m fine, I rehearse it clean Like a script in a dying scene If I pause, if I let it slip I might drown in the weight of it I lock secrets inside my chest Like they’re safer if they’re suppressed But they echo when I’m alone Turn my body into a home… for ghosts --- (Pre-Chorus — building tension) If I drop this mask, will it shatter me? If I let you in, will you actually see? Or just turn away when it’s hard to breathe… --- (Chorus — emotional, layered harmonies) I don’t wanna be the strong one tonight Don’t wanna hold it together so tight I’ve been bending till I feel like I might Break in a way I can’t rewrite If I fall, will you stay or run? Do you love me when I come undone? I’ve been strong for way too long— I don’t know who I am without it on --- (Verse 2 — Jessie Murph-style, gritty, more grounded) Yeah I learned real young how to bite my tongue How to bleed but don’t say where it’s from How to smile when it all goes numb Be the rock, be the loaded gun Everybody leans when I stand up straight But nobody sees when I suffocate Got their problems sitting on my plate While I’m starving just to feel okay I got anger I don’t let out Turn it inward, let it twist and shout Yeah it burns but I hold it down Guess that’s what being “strong”’s about --- (Pre-Chorus — duet overlap) If I say I’m not okay, will you disappear? If I finally break, will you even care? I’ve been screaming but you don’t hear… --- (Chorus — bigger, more desperate) I don’t wanna be the strong one tonight Don’t wanna carry the weight of your life I’ve been drowning in invisible fights Trying to keep it all inside If I fall, will you stay or run? Or just leave when the damage is done? I’ve been strong for way too long— I don’t know how to turn it off --- (Bridge — stripped, haunting, alternating voices) (Billie-style whisper) What if I let go… What if I cave… (Jessie-style, raw) What if I finally say I’m not okay? (Billie) Would it all fall down? (Jessie) Or just fall in place? (Both, rising) Or was I only loved for the strength I fake? --- (Breakdown — minimal beat, heartbeat bass) I’m not healing, I’m just hiding it better… I’m not strong, I just don’t know surrender… Voice cracks… breathing uneven… --- (Final Chorus — explosive, layered, emotional peak) I don’t wanna be the strong one tonight I just need someone to hold me tight I’ve been fighting every day of my life And I’m losing every fight If I fall, will you stay this time? See the truth I’ve been forced to hide? I’ve been strong for way too long— I just wanna be… not strong… --- (Outro — quiet, almost spoken) I’m tired… Of being the one who never breaks… ‘Cause I think… I already did…