[hyper-modern production with clear vocals, no autotune, Dolby Atmos mix, high-fidelity, high-definition audio and wide stereo] [Verse 1] I was the quiet one who stayed Said sorry when I wasn’t to blame Held my breath so you could breathe Gave you everything I had in me They praised the way I stayed composed Like kindness was a crown of gold But they didn’t see the cracks beneath Or hear the voice that screamed in me [Pre-Chorus] Being good never kept me safe It just made me easier to break [Chorus] I wore a hollow halo So you'd believe I glowed But it never lit the dark Or stopped the breaking of my heart They loved me ‘cause I didn’t fight But silence isn’t always right I bled so they could feel okay And no one ever looked my way So what’s a halo made of shame? Just rusted gold that hides the pain [Verse 2] I smiled when I wanted to scream Glued myself into their dream Played the role so perfectly They never saw the death in me They called me strong, they called me kind But that version of me wasn’t mine He was built to be believed Not to ever feel or grieve [Pre-Chorus] I was the peace they could control But I was never truly whole [Chorus] I wore a hollow halo So you'd believe I glowed But it never lit the dark Or stitched together my cracked heart They loved me for the way I bent But bending turned to punishment I bruised myself just to behave Now there’s nothing left to save [Bridge] You don’t earn love by fading out Or keeping quiet when you want to shout This saint you see? He’s paper thin And breaking doesn’t mean I sinned [Final Chorus – Climactic] I wore a hollow halo Now I’m letting it go It never saved me from the fall Never mattered much at all They praised the girl who never spoke While I drowned beneath their hope But I was dying all along Being “good” should never cost this much [Outro] So take your praise and let it burn I wore a halo — now I’ve learned
