Don’t Turn Around

[Intro — footsteps + pulse] Don’t turn around. Don’t— (a breath behind him) Too late. [Verse 1] Streetlight flickers twice behind me Footsteps fall exactly mine Every corner feels much narrower Every shadow keeps in time There’s a figure in the window But the shop’s been closed for years And the closer that I get to home The closer it appears I keep telling myself It’s nothing Just the night Playing tricks again But whatever’s at my back… Knows everywhere I’ve been [Pre-Chorus] Keep walking Don’t freeze Don’t give fear What it needs One breath No sound Whatever you do… Don’t turn around [Chorus] Don’t turn around It’s right behind you Don’t make a sound It already knows you Run through the dark Run through the rain But every road keeps calling your name Don’t turn around No matter how loud it gets Because the second that you see it… You might never forget Don’t turn around [Post-Chorus] Run Run Run Don’t look back Run Run Run Stay on track [Verse 2] There’s a handprint on the lamppost There’s a whisper in my ear There’s a laugh I swear I recognize From somewhere I can’t place Every alley feels familiar Like I’ve walked this route before And every time I speed up… It gets closer than before I can feel it in my shoulders Like a stare I cannot shake And the worst part isn’t knowing… It’s wanting to see its face [Pre-Chorus] Keep walking Don’t breathe Don’t believe What you see One step Then one more Don’t let curiosity Open the door [Chorus] Don’t turn around It’s right behind you Don’t make a sound It already knows you Run through the dark Run through the rain But every road keeps calling your name Don’t turn around No matter how loud it gets Because the second that you see it… You might never forget Don’t turn around [Bridge — beat cuts out] They always say… Don’t look. Don’t ask. Don’t open the door. Don’t say the name. (pause) But nobody ever tells you… What happens when fear starts feeling familiar. When the thing chasing you… Breathes like you. Walks like you. Knows your thoughts. (low bass returns) Maybe I’m not being followed. Maybe… I’m being caught. [Breakdown — distorted rhythm] Left step Right step Heart beats No rest Cold air Black street Something Behind me One turn One chance One face One glance [Final Chorus — explosive] Don’t turn around It’s right behind you Don’t make a sound It’s already inside you Run through the dark Run through the rain But you can’t outrun something That lives in your brain Don’t turn around Unless you’re ready to see The thing you were running from… Was never chasing you It was me. [Outro — silence, then whisper] I told you. Don’t turn around.