Everybody's Puppet (Gia. x The Islands)

Synth-pop drum & bass with dramatic automation, abrupt silences, hard stops, breakdowns, and explosive returns; faster accelerating two-step groove; close-mic female whispers, dry conversational rapid-fire rap, soft sustained lines, soaring chorus, fractured layers, and colliding panned call-and-response; pulsing sub-bass, dark cinematic synth pad, glitchy synth hook, reversed piano swell, modern synth atmosphere, female choir cluster, and a cheerful unexpected electronic melody, with everything cutting dead before the final beat slams back in

Ready when you are...

Am I?

You pull a few strings, I jump to attention
Funny how my plans need your permission
I'm hanging by a thread, but I still say I'm fine
You've got me on a schedule, like a showtime sign
I wear a smile whenever you say
"Come on, mate, don't be like that today"
I'm getting pretty good at playing my part
Though I can't remember who I was at the start

Are you happy now?

I'm all wound up, but I never unwind
Got a thousand little voices pulling at my mind
You say, "Just be yourself," then you tell me who to be
Funny how the strings always lead back to me

Everybody's pulling strings
Everybody wants, that thing
I'm dancing like there's nothing wrong
To a tune I never sang
You pull me left, you pull me right
Keep me hanging every night
Everybody gets to play
Everybody's puppet anyway

I'm just a little wooden when I disagree
Guess there's not much room for individuality
You give me the silent treatment, I can hear it loud
I'm doing all the talking, but I'm not allowed
I'm always playing your part
But I never get a speaking role
Jumping through another hoop
While you decide which way I go
I keep my head attached, my hands tied behind my back
Then wonder why I'm always trying to pick up the slack
You say I'm selfish when I finally say no
But never notice all the ways I let you go
Another little favour, another demand
Another line to memorise, another reprimand
You say that I'm changing, I'm not the same
But every time I find myself, you take the blame
Biting back the words I've been dying to release
You want a perfect picture, but you're tearing up the piece

I'm tied up in the things I said I'd do
A thousand little knots that all lead back to you
You say I'm overreacting, say I'm making a scene
But I'm just trying to find the person underneath

Smile.

And I can feel the tension
Every time I try to move
I've been cutting off my own arms
Just to fit inside your mould
I keep waiting for the moment
When the strings all disappear
But I'm frightened of the silence
When nobody's pulling here

I don't wanna be difficult
I don't wanna let you down
But I'm getting sick of being
Who you want me to be now

Everybody's pulling strings
Everybody wants, that thing
But I'm done with all the dancing
To a tune I never sang
You pull me left, you pull me right
But I'm cutting loose tonight
You can keep your little stage
I'm not yours to rearrange

Oooooh, ah-ah-ah

Mine.

Everybody's puppet!
Everybody's puppet!

Funny how the strings get tangled
When you finally walk away

2768/7500

Ready when you are... Am I? Am I? You pull a few strings, I jump to attention Funny how my plans need your permission I'm hanging by a thread, but I still say I'm fine You've got me on a schedule, like a showtime sign I wear a smile whenever you say "Come on, mate, don't be like that today" I'm getting pretty good at playing my part Though I can't remember who I was at the start Are you happy now? I'm all wound up, but I never unwind Got a thousand little voices pulling at my mind You say, "Just be yourself," then you tell me who to be Funny how the strings always lead back to me Everybody's pulling strings Everybody wants, that thing I'm dancing like there's nothing wrong To a tune I never sang You pull me left, you pull me right Keep me hanging every night Everybody gets to play Everybody's puppet anyway I'm just a little wooden when I disagree Guess there's not much room for individuality You give me the silent treatment, I can hear it loud I'm doing all the talking, but I'm not allowed I'm always playing your part But I never get a speaking role Jumping through another hoop While you decide which way I go I keep my head attached, my hands tied behind my back Then wonder why I'm always trying to pick up the slack You say I'm selfish when I finally say no But never notice all the ways I let you go Another little favour, another demand Another line to memorise, another reprimand You say that I'm changing, I'm not the same But every time I find myself, you take the blame Biting back the words I've been dying to release You want a perfect picture, but you're tearing up the piece I'm tied up in the things I said I'd do A thousand little knots that all lead back to you You say I'm overreacting, say I'm making a scene But I'm just trying to find the person underneath Smile. Everybody's pulling strings Everybody wants, that thing I'm dancing like there's nothing wrong To a tune I never sang You pull me left, you pull me right Keep me hanging every night Everybody gets to play Everybody's puppet anyway And I can feel the tension Every time I try to move I've been cutting off my own arms Just to fit inside your mould I keep waiting for the moment When the strings all disappear But I'm frightened of the silence When nobody's pulling here I don't wanna be difficult I don't wanna let you down But I'm getting sick of being Who you want me to be now Everybody's pulling strings Everybody wants, that thing But I'm done with all the dancing To a tune I never sang You pull me left, you pull me right But I'm cutting loose tonight You can keep your little stage I'm not yours to rearrange Oooooh, ah-ah-ah Mine. Everybody's puppet! Everybody's puppet! Funny how the strings get tangled When you finally walk away

0/500