Born to Shine

[Verse 1] They handed me a uniform, I cut the sleeves and wore it wrong. My father’s tie, my mother’s pearls— I made a doorway through their rules. I heard my name behind the gym, like dirt on their lips. I went home bleeding at the knee, put silver lightning on my cheek. [Pre-Chorus] If you came for an apology, you’re standing in the wrong room. I spent too long becoming me to make myself small for you. [Chorus] Born to shine— not politely, not on cue. Born to shine— like a match the dark struck through. Every bruise became a mirror, every “no” became a sign. I was never made to disappear. I was born to shine. [Verse 2] I wore the jacket far too tight, played cheap guitar beneath white lights. The hair was bad, the pose was worse— but I believed in every verse. They laughed until I took the stage, then watched me turn it into rage. I didn’t need their hands to clap. I only needed one light back. [Chorus] Born to shine— not politely, not on cue. Born to shine— like a match the dark struck through. Every bruise became a mirror, every “no” became a sign. I was never made to disappear. I was born to shine. [Bridge] I don’t need the room to love me. I just need the room to look. Every rule that tried to close me showed me where the hinges shook. They thought the glitter hid the damage. I wore it so the damage showed. I wasn’t shining because I never broke— I shone because I did. [Final Chorus] Born to shine— not politely, not on cue. Born to shine— now the whole room sees it too. Every bruise became a mirror, every “no” became a sign. I was never made to disappear. I was born— I was born to shine.