[INTRO — LOW, MENACING - Distorted bass pulse. Sparse industrial percussion. Drop-tuned guitar builds underneath a low, mean, aggressive whispered vocal.] They said, “That's just how it is.” So I learned to swallow every word. They said, “Don't become like me.” [Full band SLAMS IN.] [VERSE 1 — RAP-GROWL | TIGHT, SYNCOPATED RIFF - Fast deep growled rap, rapid and precise. Guitar chugs lock tightly with kick drum.] Keep your head down, don't make a sound, anger is a language when nobody comes around. Bite your tongue, clench your fists, learn to call survival something you shouldn't miss. “Man up.” “Don't cry.” “Walk it off.” “Be tough.” So I built a little fortress out of everything I wasn't. Every scar became a lesson, every lesson became law, and I swore I'd never raise a child the way they raised me before. [PRE-CHORUS — BUILDING - Drums open up. Guitars sustain. Vocal shifts from growl toward strained melody.] I hear the words I swore I'd never say. I see the fear I learned to hide away. [CHORUS — HUGE, MELODIC-SHOUTED - Massive guitars, layered vocals, pounding drums. Gang vocals reinforce final lines.] WHAT DO WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN WHEN WE ONLY KNOW THE PAIN? HOW DO WE BREAK THE CYCLE WHEN WE'RE PASSING IT AGAIN? I DON'T WANT TO BE YOUR SHADOW, I DON'T WANT TO BE THEIR CAGE. BUT EVERY TIME I LOSE CONTROL, THEY GET MY RAGE. WHAT DO WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN? WHAT DO WE LEAVE BEHIND? [VERSE 2 — FASTER RAP-GROWL - Return to stripped groove. Bass aggressively prominent. Vocal more frantic and confrontational.] I know the pattern, I've memorized the route: pressure builds, mouth shuts, then the poison comes out. I hear myself shouting, watch the little eyes freeze— and suddenly I'm standing where I swore I'd never be. Same slammed door. Same cold room. Same silence afterward. Same excuse: “I had a bad day.” Like that makes the damage disappear. I inherited a loaded weapon and called it discipline. Inherited a broken language and taught it to my kin. [Short pause.] I thought the enemy was the man who raised me. [Whispered:] Now I know better. [PRE-CHORUS 2 — BIGGER BUILD - Higher vocal intensity. Guitar feedback rises. Drums accelerate into the chorus.] I hear his voice coming out of my mouth. I feel his hands inside the way I lash out. And there's a face looking up at me— [Everything cuts.] Afraid. [CHORUS 2 — MASSIVE - Full wall of guitars. Melodic lead vocal doubled by harsh backing vocals.] WHAT DO WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN WHEN WE ONLY KNOW THE PAIN? HOW DO WE BREAK THE CYCLE WHEN WE'RE PASSING IT AGAIN? I DON'T WANT TO BE YOUR SHADOW, I DON'T WANT TO BE THEIR CAGE. BUT EVERY TIME I LOSE CONTROL, THEY GET MY RAGE. WHAT DO WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN? WHAT DO WE LEAVE BEHIND? [BRIDGE — HALF-TIME | DARK AND INTIMATE - Everything collapses to bass, kick, distant guitar harmonics. Vocal nearly spoken.] Maybe it wasn't fate. Maybe it wasn't blood. Maybe “that's just how we are” was always just a lie. Maybe I can stop. Maybe I can learn. [Soft, almost spoken:] I'm sorry... [FINAL BREAKDOWN — DEVASTATING HALF-TIME - Monstrous drop-tuned riff. Huge kick/snare. Vocal is extremely deep and guttural. Each line punctuated by the band.] I HEAR YOUR VOICE— [CHUG] COMING OUT— [CHUG] OF MY MOUTH. [CHUG-CHUG] BUT IT ENDS— [Silence.] IT ENDS— [Full band explosion.] WITH ME. ENDS WITH ME! ENDS WITH ME! [FINAL CHORUS / OUTRO — MAXIMUM INTENSITY - Return to huge chorus, now more desperate than angry. Layer clean melody, growled doubles and gang vocals.] I WILL NOT TEACH YOU THE FEAR THAT TAUGHT ME. I WILL NOT HAND YOU THE HURT THAT HAUNTS ME. I DON'T HAVE TO BE WHAT MADE ME. I DON'T HAVE TO PASS THE FIRE DOWN. [Huge final hit.] WE MUST TEACH OUR CHILDREN.. [Brief silence.] HOW TO BREAK THE CHAIN. [FINAL CRUSHING RIFF — END]
