[Intro – soft child voice over distant looping “I’m a real boy… I’m a real boy…”] Tick-tock… tick-tock… Wood don’t bleed but it still rot Geppetto carved me soft Then left me in the dark [Verse 1] I was born from a block of pine No mama, no cry, just a knife and a line He whispered “be good” while he glued my spine Then hung me up like a trophy on time Nose grow long when the truth get thin Every lie I told just fed the sin Cricket in my ear sayin’ “don’t you begin” But the strings on my wrists already pullin’ me in I’m a puppet with a pulse that ain’t mine Dancin’ for coins while the shadows align Blue fairy promised me flesh and a mind All I got was a mirror that shows I’m still pine [Chorus – child voice, almost crying but cold] I’m a real boy… (loop under) I’m a real boy… But the wood still talk when the night get loud I’m a real boy… I’m a real boy… Still got strings on my neck when I try to bow out [Verse 2] Pleasure Island smelled like candy and smoke Kids turnin’ donkey, I watched ‘em all choke Lampwick laughed till the ears started poke I ran with the rest but the water still soak Coachman grin with the whip in his hand Said “little wooden liar, you don’t understand” They sold us for work when the magic ran dry I still hear the braying every time I close my eyes Geppetto searched the ocean for a son made of wood I was sinkin’ with the whale, tastin’ salt and blood When the blue light hit I thought I finally stood But the grain in my skin never turned into good [Chorus] I’m a real boy… I’m a real boy… But the wood still talk when the night get loud I’m a real boy… I’m a real boy… Still got strings on my neck when I try to bow out [Bridge – almost whispered, child voice cracking] They said if I’m brave, if I’m true, if I’m kind The magic will fix what the carver left behind I was brave in the belly, true when I cried Still wake up every night with the grain in my side Nose don’t grow no more… it just stays long Truth don’t matter when the song already wrong I’m walking, I’m talking, they call me a boy But the forest still claims what it never destroyed [Final Chorus – louder, more desperate, still child] I’m a real boy… (I’m a real boy…) I’m a real boy… (I’m a real boy…) But the wood still talk when the night get loud I’m a real boy… I’m a real boy… Still got strings on my neck… and they never cut out [Outro – fading child voice over the endless loop] I’m a real boy… I’m a real boy… I’m a real boy… (wood don’t forget) I’m a real boy…
