Dress Rehearsal

[Instrumental Intro] [Verse 1] Step right up! It’s the boy you booed, (I’m back, baby!) Wrote my sins in a golden font — They framed it, sold it, called it “haute.” Cracked a joke on a casket lid, Got banned, rebranded, now I’m “kid-lit.” Smile like murder in a musical — Jazzy hands while the blood runs biblical. Crash a gala in a thrift store cloak, Drip irony, cough up smoke — (He’s so deep!) Nah, I’m ankle-shallow, Faked the fall just to land the shadow. I’m trauma-flavored bubblegum, (Blow me up!) then spit me numb. Laugh track louder than my scream — Was it therapy or just a meme? Walked through hell in a spotlight’s gleam, Danced the waltz with the guillotine — (Make it spin!) snap! snap! lights! Dress your grief in sequin tights. I broke in just to steal my name, Lit it up in kerosene flame — (Watch him go!) yeah, go where? They paved my grave with fanfare. I’m the scandal in your sermon notes, The fake confession that still floats. Crooked teeth, clean-cut press I sold my worst in Sunday dress. So tell me this — If I burn slow in a standing ovation… Is it death, or is it dedication? (Clap!) (Clap!) (Clap!) Laugh. [Chorus] You clapped when I cracked — so here's the reprise (Encore! Encore!) Spotlight pain in a tailored disguise Perform Conform Distort Reform (He’s so brave!) Keep it cute when you bleed — that’s the brand, right? Wrecked! (Cheer) Masked! (Cheer) Stripped! (Cheer) Asked! (Cheer) (Sell the tears!) Smile through the trauma, it sells overnight Fake Break Sell Ache (Make it tragic!) Market the truth till it's plastic and clean Scripted scars in a glossy routine Snap! (Cheer) Gasp! (Cheer) Lie! (Cheer) Clap! (Cheer) I’m dying in drafts for your perfect scene (One more take…) For your perfect scene (He nails the scream.) [Guitar Solo] [Verse 2] Tell the tale, make it sell — just skip the part where it hurts too real (Keep it clean!) Your crisis needs a better hook (More mean!) Rewrite the mess till it fits the look The stage is fake but the pressure ain't Got trauma? Cool. Now dress it quaint (Tie the bow!) Make it digestible, pink, and tame God forbid you drop the shame [Breakdown] Say less— (Too much!) Say more— (Too raw!) Say nothing— (Fake!) Say everything— (Flawed!) Smile on cue— Snap too soon Fix your script— Forget the tune Repeat your pain— Polished, tight (You're doing great!) Now cry just right Do it again— Faster this time No breath, no pause, no meaning, no spine (Give us your soul!) You gave it away For a little applause and a "have a nice day" [Instrumental] [Chorus – Reprise] You clapped when I cracked — now here’s the decline (Turn it up!) Spotlight grief in a glass of wine Perform Distort Exploit Abort (He’s so brave!) He’s not, but he sure can mime Burnt! (Cheer) Glossed! (Cheer) Shamed! (Cheer) Tossed! (Cheer) Smile through the nightmare, they’ll call it “fine” Choke Joke Sink Smoke Package the wounds, sell the mess Frame it pretty in a showbiz dress Snap! (Cheer) Lie! (Cheer) Die! (Cheer) Buy! (Cheer) You paid for my pain — so I gave you excess [Verse 3] I wore the script until it wore thin Stitched my skin into suits for them (Give us more!) There’s none left It’s all old lines and pantomime breath You called it brave when I broke on cue When I said I needed help, the room withdrew But say it with lighting Say it with flair And suddenly they care But you don't Not really Just enough to post To toast To ghost [Bridge] This isn’t healing — It’s rehearsal. A trauma loop in a gilded circle. Am I still bleeding or just performing pain? (Again!) Am I human or a walking campaign? [Outro] So cue the lights Dim the crowd Take your bow, and make it loud Clap for me Scream for me Forget me Repeat me The mask stays on Until the ratings drop That’s the show And the show won’t stop.