[Bass hook] [Scratch] [Him] Say what you mean Don't give me the version You polished up clean Just to keep from hurting Don't give me fine When your eyes say no Don't tell me nothing's wrong Then punish me for what I don't know [Her] Maybe I need a minute [Him] Take two [Her] Maybe I don't have the words [Him] That's true [Her] Maybe saying what I feel Makes everything too real [Him] Maybe real Is what we're here to do [Shamisen hook] [Chorus - Both] Say it like you mean it Mean it when you say it Don't dress up the truth Then wonder why we can't save it Say it wrong Say it shaking Say the thing you're scared to say I can work with something honest I can't work With what you hide away Say it like you mean it [Scratch] Mean it [Her] I learned to read a room Before I learned to trust one Learned sometimes getting close Is how you give somebody a loaded gun So I keep one foot moving Keep an exit in my sight If I leave before it hurts me I can tell myself I'm right [Him] I learned something different When I care I dig in deep Try to understand the pieces Other people wouldn't keep [Her] And sometimes that feels heavy [Him] Sometimes leaving does too [Her] So what the hell do we do with that? [Him] Start by telling What's true [Chorus - Both] Say it like you mean it Mean it when you say it Don't dress up the truth Then wonder why we can't save it Say I'm mad Say I'm scared Say I need a little space But don't hand silence all the words We're too afraid To say Say it like you mean it [Scratch] Mean it [Instrumental break] [Bass and shamisen trade] [Scratch answers] [Handclaps] [Her] What if I say I miss you? [Him] Then you miss me [Her] What if I say I'm pissed? [Him] Then be pissed [Her] What if I say I love you And I don't know what comes with it? [Him] Then for once We know exactly Where to start [Music cuts] [Bridge] [Him] No more coded language [Her] No more reading signs [Him] No making one bad moment Speak for every other time [Her] No promises for comfort [Him] No answers just to please [Her] No calling something freedom When I'm really trying to leave [Him] No calling something loyalty If I'm holding way too tight [Both] No more making ourselves wrong Just so somebody else is right [Beat] [Her] You want the truth? [Him] Yeah [Her] All of it? [Him] That's the point [Her] You might not like it [Him] I don't have to like it [Pause] I have to hear it [Scratch] [Full band] [Final Chorus - Both] Say it like you mean it Mean it when you say it Give me something real enough We don't have to translate it Say it loud Say it softly Say it with your whole damn chest Truth might break the thing between us But pretending Never gives it Any rest Say it like you mean it Mean it when you say it You don't owe me yes And I don't owe you maybe Say you're here Say you're gone Say you need another day Just don't make me read your silence When you've got Something to say [Handclaps] Say it [Scratch] [Her] You still listening? [Him] I'm listening [Her] Even if you don't like it? [Him] Especially then [Shamisen hook] [Scratch answers] [End]
