[Intro] Mother’s gone, the door clicks softly, I can hear my breathing in the wings at night Silk shoes tied too tight around me, shadows on the marley in the ghost light Every step a little secret that I never chose to keep Every turn a pretty prison while the others fall asleep [Verse 1] I want someone who sees the girl and not the perfect pirouette Who hears my voice between the notes, the dreams I haven’t spoken yet I want a hand that isn’t counting every fouetté that I do I want a heart that breaks a little when I say I’m broken too [Build] I’m angry, angry at the ribbons cutting blood-red on my skin At all the smiles that say "be grateful" while they tighten from within I’m angry at the painted stories where the swan must always die At every "brava" in the darkness that drowns out my right to cry [Optimism] But maybe, maybe there is music that is waiting past this stage A quieter, kinder overture that turns my pain to turning page Maybe there’s a softer spotlight where I learn to breathe and stay Where the girl inside the ballerina slowly learns she walks away [Excited] Yes, I’ll be free, I’ll spin for no one, just the beating of my heart I’ll leap into my own tomorrow, write myself the final part Hear the orchestra behind me as I choose my own encore See the crimson curtain rising on a life that’s mine and more [Collapse] But how can I run from the echoes that are stitched into my bones? How do I leave when every hallway sings in practiced, perfect tones? The house goes dark, the music falters, all the clapping fades at last And I’m alone, a wreck of velvet, in the ruins of my past [Outro] Softly now the footlights flicker, harp and piano share one breath One last bow to all the stories that have danced me close to death Barefoot on the empty stage, I face the hush of what may be A fragile girl, a fallen swan, in the wings of tragedy
