Painted-On Smile

Dramatic alt-pop ballad with male vocals over intimate guitar; start with close-mic’d fingerpicked verses, then swell into a wide, reverb-heavy chorus with layered harmonies and low tom hits, Second chorus adds subtle octave double on the lead, brief guitar swells between lines, and a final stripped repeat of the hook on near-whispered vocal and sparse chords, drama, male vocals, dramatic

[Pre-Chorus]
I paint on a grin
’til it sticks to my skin
(yeah)
Say that I’m okay
Just to end the day

[Chorus]
I hate how everybody acts like it’s easy
Like I’m overthinking
Overreacting
I’m trying my hardest
Still falling apart
Holding it in until it breaks my heart
They say “just breathe
You’ll be fine
You’ll see”
But they’re not the ones it’s eating alive in me
For this painted-on smile I fake every day
I guess we deal with it in our own way

[Verse 2]
Got jokes in my pocket
For when I can’t cope
Turn every breakdown
Into some kind of hope
Scroll through their highlight reels
Til I lose my place
How does the whole damn world
Wear that effortless face?

[Pre-Chorus]
Tell ’em “it’s all good”
’cause they like me that way
(oh)
If I showed the cracks
Would they walk away?

[Bridge]
Maybe I’m not broken
Just bruised in old places
Tired of pretending
Around familiar faces
If I let it show
And my voice comes out shaky
Will someone stay
When it all feels this crazy?

[Outro]
Yeah
This painted-on smile
Is peeling away
I’m not okay
But I’ll find my own way

1977/7500

[Verse 1] The struggle feels heavier When it’s my own mess Trip on the same cracked steps Calling it progress Blame it on old ghosts Hiding in plain sight Everyone says “you’re fine” They never see nights like mine [Pre-Chorus] I paint on a grin ’til it sticks to my skin (yeah) Say that I’m okay Just to end the day [Chorus] I hate how everybody acts like it’s easy Like I’m overthinking Overreacting I’m trying my hardest Still falling apart Holding it in until it breaks my heart They say “just breathe You’ll be fine You’ll see” But they’re not the ones it’s eating alive in me For this painted-on smile I fake every day I guess we deal with it in our own way [Verse 2] Got jokes in my pocket For when I can’t cope Turn every breakdown Into some kind of hope Scroll through their highlight reels Til I lose my place How does the whole damn world Wear that effortless face? [Pre-Chorus] Tell ’em “it’s all good” ’cause they like me that way (oh) If I showed the cracks Would they walk away? [Chorus] I hate how everybody acts like it’s easy Like I’m overthinking Overreacting I’m trying my hardest Still falling apart Holding it in until it breaks my heart They say “just breathe You’ll be fine You’ll see” But they’re not the ones it’s eating alive in me For this painted-on smile I fake every day I guess we deal with it in our own way [Bridge] Maybe I’m not broken Just bruised in old places Tired of pretending Around familiar faces If I let it show And my voice comes out shaky Will someone stay When it all feels this crazy? [Chorus] I hate how everybody acts like it’s easy Like I’m overthinking Overreacting I’m trying my hardest Still falling apart Holding it in until it breaks my heart They say “just breathe You’ll be fine You’ll see” But they’re not the ones it’s eating alive in me For this painted-on smile I fake every day I guess we deal with it in our own way [Outro] Yeah This painted-on smile Is peeling away I’m not okay But I’ll find my own way

0/500