Spend Myself to Stand Still

Progressive alternative metal, ~108 BPM, heavy half-time weight, shifting asymmetrical accents, G-centered modal tension, Preserve the existing instrumental's uneven rhythmic figures and dynamic contrasts, Male baritone-tenor lead with dark, resonant chest tone, restrained hypnotic delivery, precise consonants and delayed phrase entrances, Low intimate speech-singing in verses, sustained vowels stretching across instrumental accents, gradually climbing melodic tension, Hooks use commanding mid-register lines with long, dissonant suspensions, Repetition grows increasingly obsessive, Exposed bridge becomes a controlled, almost accusatory chant before one cathartic upper-register release in the final hook, Close, dry verses; subtly widened, reverberant climaxes, Leave generous instrumental gaps, No constant shouting or ornamental runs

There's a chain behind my eyes,
Another underneath my ribs.
Morning pulls them both at once
Before I know what day it is.

There's a page of things I meant to learn,
A thought I never got to chase.
I pass them on my way to work,
And leave them waiting in their place.

I used to follow little questions
Till they opened into more.
Now I know which ones I'll leave
Untouched beside the door.

They thanked me for the heavy lifting
They'd never dare to do themselves.
The next time, no one thought to ask.
It was simply mine as well.

I know the way the question comes,
The meaning in a glance.
I've learned to give the answers
To the things you haven't asked.

And every time I think I'm finished,
There's another thing to do.
I've started living in the hours
That I haven't given you.

I spend myself to stand still,
You call it getting ahead.
Every hour I try to keep
Belongs to someone else instead.

Don't tell me how good I have it
When I can't call my time my own.
I give until there's nothing left,
And still there's something owed.

I find a little time to sit,
And almost reach for what I love.
But someone sees my empty hands
And tells me what I could have done.

"If you've got time for that, then help me."
I don't even argue now.
I set aside the things I wanted,
Like I've forgotten how.

They see an idle pair of hands.
I see the minutes I have saved.
And every time I take one back,
I feel there's something left to pay.

So I take what's left of being tired
And try to make it feel like rest.
But even when nobody needs me,
I'm preparing for what's next.

I know the way the question comes,
Before you turn to speak.
You haven't asked for anything,
And I've already lost my peace.

I don't know how to give you less,
Or what becomes of me
If all the things I've learned to carry
Are the things that make me bleed.

I spend myself to stand still,
You call it getting ahead.
Every hour I try to keep
Belongs to someone else instead.

Don't tell me how good I have it
When I can't call my time my own.
I give until there's nothing left,
And still there's something owed.

If I stop, will you still want me?
If I say no, will you stay?
I've made myself so damn reliable
You don't hear what it takes.

I never hated caring.
I hate what it became.
I did everything they asked of me,
And nothing ever changed.

I spend myself to stand still,
And you call it getting ahead.
You take the hours I was saving,
Then ask what I have done with them.

Don't tell me how good I have it
As though that settles what I owe.
I never asked for everything,
Just something I could call my own.

I spend myself to stand still.
I give you everything I can.
And somehow all that I've accomplished
Is becoming less a man.

I open up that page again.
For once, a thought begins to take its shape.

A footstep passes down the hall.

No one asks me for a thing.

I put the page away.

And I hate how little it takes.

2903/7500

There's a chain behind my eyes, Another underneath my ribs. Morning pulls them both at once Before I know what day it is. There's a page of things I meant to learn, A thought I never got to chase. I pass them on my way to work, And leave them waiting in their place. I used to follow little questions Till they opened into more. Now I know which ones I'll leave Untouched beside the door. They thanked me for the heavy lifting They'd never dare to do themselves. The next time, no one thought to ask. It was simply mine as well. I know the way the question comes, The meaning in a glance. I've learned to give the answers To the things you haven't asked. And every time I think I'm finished, There's another thing to do. I've started living in the hours That I haven't given you. I spend myself to stand still, You call it getting ahead. Every hour I try to keep Belongs to someone else instead. Don't tell me how good I have it When I can't call my time my own. I give until there's nothing left, And still there's something owed. I find a little time to sit, And almost reach for what I love. But someone sees my empty hands And tells me what I could have done. "If you've got time for that, then help me." I don't even argue now. I set aside the things I wanted, Like I've forgotten how. They see an idle pair of hands. I see the minutes I have saved. And every time I take one back, I feel there's something left to pay. So I take what's left of being tired And try to make it feel like rest. But even when nobody needs me, I'm preparing for what's next. I know the way the question comes, Before you turn to speak. You haven't asked for anything, And I've already lost my peace. I don't know how to give you less, Or what becomes of me If all the things I've learned to carry Are the things that make me bleed. I spend myself to stand still, You call it getting ahead. Every hour I try to keep Belongs to someone else instead. Don't tell me how good I have it When I can't call my time my own. I give until there's nothing left, And still there's something owed. If I stop, will you still want me? If I say no, will you stay? I've made myself so damn reliable You don't hear what it takes. I never hated caring. I hate what it became. I did everything they asked of me, And nothing ever changed. I spend myself to stand still, And you call it getting ahead. You take the hours I was saving, Then ask what I have done with them. Don't tell me how good I have it As though that settles what I owe. I never asked for everything, Just something I could call my own. I spend myself to stand still. I give you everything I can. And somehow all that I've accomplished Is becoming less a man. I open up that page again. For once, a thought begins to take its shape. A footstep passes down the hall. No one asks me for a thing. I put the page away. And I hate how little it takes.

0/500