"The Man Behind The Armour"

Verse 1 I was raised by the silence, By the words never said, By the hands that kept working While the heart stayed in bed. I learned how to answer, "I'm fine" with a smile, While a storm was destroying me Quietly all the while. I wore my strength like a jacket, Too heavy to take off, And nobody knew underneath it I was falling apart. Pre-Chorus Because a man is supposed to be steady, A man is supposed to stand tall, But nobody told me the strongest thing Was admitting I was about to fall. Chorus So here I am, With the truth in my hands, No longer pretending I don't need a friend. I am not weak Because my tears hit the ground, I am not broken Because I need someone now. For years I was fighting A war no one could see, But the moment I spoke it, The pain lost its hold on me. Verse 2 I thought if I opened The door to my mind, The world would see weakness, The world would see mine. But the people who love me Didn't walk away, They sat in the darkness And helped me find day. And I realised something That changed everything A heart that is hurting Is still a heart beating. Chorus So here I am, With the truth in my hands, No longer pretending I don't need a friend. I am not weak Because I ask for a light, I am not defeated Because I struggle sometimes. For years I was carrying A mountain of doubt, But healing began When I finally spoke out. Bridge To the boy who was told "Don't cry, be a man," I wish someone held you And said, "I understand." To the man in the mirror Who hides what he's found, Your silence is heavy Put it down. You don't have to bleed Just to prove you are strong, You don't have to suffer To prove you belong. Final Chorus So here I am, Not fearless, not fixed, Just learning to live With the truth that exists. And if tomorrow The darkness comes round, I won't disappear And I won't shut down. Because I found my courage, I found my way through The bravest thing I ever did Was finally tell the truth. Outro The armour was heavy, The battle was long, But I was never weak For needing someone. A man isn't measured By the pain he can hide... But by finding the courage To open what's inside.