[Verse 1] I sublet the ceiling, count cracks in the light Gown open, October still gummed to the night Plastic on my mouth like a grin that won’t quit Been asleep too long — the body kept the chit Part of me signed for the quiet, don’t dress it up nice Four pumps from a hand that won’t look in my eyes Then thunder on the ribs, a doorbell, no grace I watch my mouth slacken from a place with no face [Pre-Chorus] Porch light stutterin’ like a fly in the glass If I crawl back in, do I come back whole or half? [Pre-Chorus] [Pre-Chorus] [Verse 2] Candy in my pocket, his blood on the cuff Kids on the sidewalk still laughin’ it up I drag him through sodium, yellow and mean His head on my shoulder like a busted machine “I’m talkin’ to you,” I spit it, I break Stay with me, motherfucker, this ain’t yours to take Rain in the gutter, perfume on the wind I hold what is left like it still might be him [Pre-Chorus] [Chorus] Halloween — the mask never comes off Halloween — I been asleep too long Four pumps, one shock, the dark tries to keep me I’m talkin’ to you, stay with me, stay with me Halloween — grin on, nobody home They jump-start the engine, the driver is gone I’m talkin’ to you — stay the fuck with me Don’t let the costume be the last thing they see [Verse 3] I park on the hydrant, leave the hazards alive Mask in the passenger, holes for the eyes They say that he surfaced. I don’t trust the verb Breathin’ ain’t livin’ when the livin’ looks blurred He turns to the window like the glass knows his name “Been under,” he whispers, “like the night knew my shape” Gel still shine on his chest in the cheap hallway light I laugh once, ugly. He came back. The mask didn’t. [Chorus] [Bridge] I drop back in heavy — copper, tile, heat The yell hits my sternum before any heartbeat No tunnel, no angel, a shitty white light That flickers like the porch and won’t pick a side If I stay, I stay jagged, I stay in the red Mask in the bio bag, starin’ from the bed I squeeze a hand I can’t see, and I stay Not clean. Not forgiven. Awake anyway. [Breakdown] Stay with me I’m talkin’ to you Mask never comes off Stay — Stay the fuck with me [Chorus] Porch light. Steady beep. Kids in the street. He blinks. He don’t smile. The mask on the chair still faces the door.
