Wars Don’t End, They Fade

[Verse 1] The papers say the fighting’s done, The borders drawn, the silence won. But in the mirror late at night, I still see fires behind my eyes. The streets are calm, the shelves are full, But something here is never whole. [Pre-Chorus] They rang the bells, they waved the flags, But no one asked what followed back. [Chorus] Wars don’t end, they fade away, They learn to live inside your days. They lower their voice, they change their face, Wars don’t end — they fade. [Verse 2] I fold my jacket, stand in line, Practice being “doing fine.” A stranger laughs, the radio plays, A song that sounds like yesterday. The world keeps turning, clean and bright, But some nights never say goodnight. [Pre-Chorus] They count the dead, they close the files, But leave the rest to walk for miles. [Chorus] Wars don’t end, they fade away, They settle in the small things we say. In ordinary rooms, in quiet pain, Wars don’t end — they fade. [Bridge] No medals for the dreams that stay, No parade for what won’t go away. Just borrowed peace and borrowed sleep, And promises we couldn’t keep. [Final Chorus] Wars don’t end, they fade from view, They dress like home, they sound like you. They wait in words we never say, Wars don’t end — they fade. [Outro] The world moves on… I’m learning how.