[Intro — Spoken Over Bass Pulse] Black dress. Yellow flower. Same old armor. Wrong occasion. [Verse 1] The invitation watched me From beneath a fridge magnet. Gold letters promising forever— Very brave for folded paper. I opened up the wardrobe. Every dress knew how to leave: Courtroom black. Breakup black. Black for making grief look chic. At the wedding, someone asked me, “Did you dress for a funeral?” I said, “Same dress. Better catering.” Then raised my glass to staying cheerful. [Pre-Chorus] I wore mourning to beginnings So the ending couldn’t win. Hard to say the knife surprised you When you welcomed it straight in. [Chorus] I CAME DRESSED FOR THE END, WITH A EULOGY INSIDE. LOVE SHOWED UP LAUGHING AND REFUSED TO DIE. ONE HAND ON THE EXIT, ONE EYE ON THE TIME— BLACK WAS NEVER WHO I WAS, JUST HOW I STAYED ALIVE. [Instrumental Hook] [Verse 2] The bride tore off a yellow flower From a cheap paper display. Pinned it crooked to my shoulder, Drew a little blood and said: “There. You look less haunted.” I said, “Give me ten minutes, dear.” Then the band played something awful And the happy couple cheered. I watched two grown adults dancing Like statistics didn’t count. No celestial intervention. Just two fools who hadn’t backed out. [Pre-Chorus 2] I thought expecting nothing Meant that nothing could betray me. Turns out dread is only heartbreak Charging interest daily. [Chorus] I CAME DRESSED FOR THE END, WITH A EULOGY INSIDE. LOVE SHOWED UP LAUGHING AND REFUSED TO DIE. ONE HAND ON THE EXIT, ONE EYE ON THE TIME— BLACK WAS NEVER WHO I WAS, JUST HOW I STAYED ALIVE. [Post-Chorus — Dry Layered Vocals] Oh-oh... Something good is happening. Ah-ah... How deeply embarrassing. Oh-oh... Don’t make a doctrine out of it. I only danced. A little bit. [Dark Guitar Turn] [Bridge — Intimate, Then Building] I kept the black dress on. I kept the yellow flower. I did not find religion Between the cake and final hour. I still don’t trust forever. I still read the smaller print. But maybe being ready for disaster Doesn’t mean I have to help it. I thought preparing for the ending Made me difficult to fool. But rehearsing every funeral Doesn’t make the coffin useful. [Final Chorus] I CAME DRESSED FOR THE END, LEFT THE EULOGY INSIDE. LOVE SHOWED UP LAUGHING— I LET IT STAY ALIVE. NO HAND ON THE EXIT. NO ARGUMENT WITH LIGHT. BLACK IS STILL MY FAVORITE— IT JUST ISN’T MY ALIBI. [Post-Chorus] Oh-oh... Something good is happening. Ah-ah... Still deeply embarrassing. [Outro — Spoken] The flower was paper. The blood was real. Good enough.
