[Verse 1] I bought the wire at the hardware In a coil that cut my palm I told the boy behind the counter It was only for the lawn He did not ask why I was shaking He did not ask about the rust He put the change into my hand Like he was paying for my luck At home I spread the paper On the table by the sink I drew a mouth I used to kiss Then I stitched it shut in ink [Pre-Chorus] Hold still Hold still This only works if you don't cry Hold still Hold still A pretty face is just a lie [Chorus] Wire smile Wire smile I made you look like you were mine Wire smile Wire smile A mouth that never tells the time If love is something you can keep Then love is something you can bind Wire smile Wire smile I pulled it tight and called it kind [Verse 2] You left in March without a letter Just a dent still in the bed I kept your cup. I kept your coat I kept the sentence that you said You said, don't make a scene in public You said, don't come around my work You said, October makes you stupid And I proved you right, it hurts I took the gourd from off the porch I cut the crown. I scooped it thin I set your photograph inside And I sewed the corners in [Pre-Chorus] Hold still Hold still The teeth have got to stay in line Hold still Hold still A crooked mouth will tell on mine [Chorus] Wire smile Wire smile I made you look like you were mine Wire smile Wire smile A mouth that never tells the time If love is something you can keep Then love is something you can bind Wire smile Wire smile I pulled it tight and called it kind [Verse 3] People praised it from the sidewalk Said the craft was almost fine Said the eyes had so much feeling Said the grin looked genuine They did not see the copper biting They did not see the little blood Where the metal met the soft part And refused to come undone I lit a candle in the hollow So the kitchen filled with gold And for an hour you were with me In a face I could control [Bridge] This is not a children's lantern This is not a joke I tell This is how I keep a lover When the living one got well If you come back, you will know it You will know it by the seam You will know it by the rust taste When you try to speak to me [Breakdown] Smile Smile Don't you ruin it Smile Smile I did this work I paid this cost I made a mouth that would not walk [Verse 4] At midnight I sat close to it And I talked like you were there I told you I was sorry once Then I told you I didn't care I told you I could be a person If you'd only keep that shape I told you love is just a fixture You screw down so it cannot break The candle drowned in its own wax The grin stayed sharp and wide And I understood the old warning About what you keep inside [Pre-Chorus] Hold still Hold still If you loosen, I am gone Hold still Hold still The wire is the only bond [Chorus] Wire smile Wire smile I made you look like you were mine Wire smile Wire smile A mouth that never tells the time If love is something you can keep Then love is something you can bind Wire smile Wire smile I pulled it tight and called it kind [Final Chorus] Wire smile Wire smile All the neighbors called it art Wire smile Wire smile They never saw the private part If you find it on my table If you lift it to the light You will see the metal crossing Where I taught you not to fight Wire smile Wire smile I will wear it if I must A face that stays A love that rusts [Outro] I wash the knife I coil the rest I leave you burning In the west window Grinning Grinning Like you missed me
