[Spoken / whispered] I did not ask for the grain of sand I did not bless the knife I did not call the wound a gift Or thank it for my life [Low vocal, almost spoken] I knocked on every door I knew With evidence and skin They looked through all my evidence And called the weather wind [Whispered refrain] I am an oyster Closed but alive Making a pearl Where the poison survives [Verse] Something in me closed Not dead......Not small A holy little chamber Where they could not reach at all [Refrain - chanted, restrained] Layer by layer Salt, moon, bone Layer by layer I become my own home [Verse, slow, restrained] Do not tell me pressure made me Do not praise the pain Do not put a halo On the hands that brought the rain I am not grateful I am not sweet But I know the dark now And what it cannot eat [Whispered refrain] I am an oyster Closed but alive Making a pearl Where the poison survives [chanted, slow] This is not forgiveness This is not defeat This is not me kneeling Pretty at your feet This is nacre over ache This is not defeat This is shell over wound This is pearl over grief [Refrain - soft, hypnotic] Layer by layer Salt, moon, bone Layer by layer I become my own home [Breakdown - whispered] Water on my face Salt inside my heart No one saw the pearl Forming slowly in the dark They saw the rough shell I kept the rainbow inside Layer by layer I taught the dark to shine I am an oyster I am the tide I am the pearl I am alive I am an oyster I am the tide I am the pearl I am alive [pause] Soft body Steel shell Rainbow inside Alive......
