Battle Flag Verse 1 My mother used to leave the hallway light burning through the night. She said it helped the house remember morning always arrived. She’d kiss my forehead half asleep, pull the blanket to my chin. Back then I still believed love could keep the darkness out. I thought every grown-up knew the way home. I thought every promise meant forever. Then someone who sounded like mercy learned my name by heart. He sounded like my own voice on a day I couldn’t bear my own skin. ⸻ Pre-Chorus It’ll only be tonight. You deserve a little peace. Nobody has to know what gets you back to sleep. ⸻ Chorus I raised a battle flag in the ruins of my youth. Traded every future version for one unbearable truth. Now there’s ashes in my mouth where a prayer used to live. Every angel that I buried was a promise I would give. I was innocence in bathroom light, mascara running wild. Lipstick like a battle flag— anything but white. If they couldn’t call me holy, they could call me alive. ⸻ Verse 2 I learned how to answer before anybody asked. How to wear a steady smile like it wasn’t made of glass. The mirror stopped reflecting someone I could recognize. Funny how you disappear without ever leaving sight. I stopped praying for tomorrow. Started praying no one noticed today. Every “I’m okay” got easier to believe. Turns out the lies you tell yourself are the hardest ones to leave. ⸻ Pre-Chorus You can stop whenever you want. That’s what I kept hearing. Funny how the safest lies always sound like your own voice. ⸻ Chorus I raised a battle flag in the ruins of my youth. Traded every future version for one unbearable truth. Now there’s ashes in my mouth where a prayer used to live. Every angel that I buried was a promise I would give. I was innocence in bathroom light, mascara running wild. Lipstick like a battle flag— anything but white. If they couldn’t call me holy, they could call me alive. White dress on the washing line. I couldn’t remember whether it belonged to a wedding… or surrender. ⸻ Bridge Then I hear my mother laughing somewhere down the hall. Funny how the safest memories are always the first to fall. I remember who she thought I’d be. God… She would’ve loved the girl before the war. ⸻ Final Chorus I raised a battle flag in the ruins of my youth. Traded every future version for one unbearable truth. Now there’s ashes in my mouth where a prayer used to live. Every angel that I buried was a promise I would give. I was innocence in bathroom light, mascara running wild. Lipstick like a battle flag— anything but white. If they couldn’t call me holy, they could call me alive. Still I’m dancing through the wreckage of a halo on fire. ⸻ Outro The war ended years ago. My hands never got the message.
