[Intro: Instrumental — mid-tempo ska groove] [Upstroke guitars, light bass groove, snappy drums, playful synth layer.] [Verse 1:] Smiles are cheap but the knives are gold Backhand favors, stories sold You said “I got you,” yeah, I bet Now I’m learning what you really meant [Pre-Chorus:] Little lies wrapped in velvet bows Pretty words but the cracks still show I was blind, but now I see You're not what you pretend to be [Chorus: Tempo shifts to fast rock beat — heavy guitars kick in] Don’t trust everyone who says they care Some just wanna steal your air Smiling faces, sharpened tongues They’re your friends — until they’re done Don’t trust everyone who plays it sweet They'll watch you drown from VIP seats [Post-Chorus:] (Ooh-oh) Watch your back when they applaud (Ooh-oh) Wolves wear lace and call it love [Verse 2: Tempo drops back to mid-tempo ska groove] They sip your secrets like sweet tea Save receipts for the tragedy You called it friendship, I call it game Different masks, but the play’s the same [Pre-Chorus:] Sugar words, venom drip Empty hugs with a hidden grip I was loyal, I was blind Now I’m done, I’ve read the signs [Chorus: Tempo shifts back to fast rock beat] Don’t trust everyone who says they care Some just wanna steal your air Smiling faces, sharpened tongues They’re your friends — until they’re done Don’t trust everyone who plays it sweet They'll watch you drown from VIP seats [Break: Instrumental ska bridge with guitar licks and drum solo] [Ska rhythm slows, bass walks up and down, playful call-and-response guitar riff.] [Bridge: Emotional build] You can fool some for a little while But fake love has an ugly smile I’ve burned the map, I’ve cut the thread No more games inside my head [Hook:] Don’t trust, don’t trust Don’t trust everyone (Don’t trust, don’t trust) [Chorus: Final chorus — highest energy rock tempo] Don’t trust everyone who says they care Some just wanna steal your air Smiling faces, sharpened tongues They’re your friends — until they’re done Don’t trust everyone who plays it sweet They'll watch you drown from VIP seats [Outro: Instrumental fade — tempo slows back to ska groove, distant echoes of “don’t trust…”]
