Potholes and Promises by Nyx You’re the clock that never ticks late, I’m the “check engine” light you tolerate. Your love’s a highway, I’m the traffic delay A breakdown you’ve memorized every way. You could trade up, but you idle here, Revving your heart in the smoke of my fear. I’m the dent in your door, the scratch on your paint, But you stay like the engine’s too stubborn to break. (verse 1) You’re the oil change I always forget, The GPS voice I ignore with regret. I’m the flat tire you’ve patched too many times, The rust on your bumper, the cracks in your rhymes. You’ve got a roadmap to a life that’s clean, But I’m the pothole that keeps wrecking the scene. You say, “We’ll get there,” but your voice wears thin I’m the breakdown lane you keep pulling us in. (chorus) You’re the clock that never ticks late, I’m the “check engine” light you tolerate. Your love’s a highway, I’m the traffic delay— A breakdown you’ve memorized every way. You could trade up, but you idle here, Revving your heart in the smoke of my fear. I’m the dent in your door, the scratch on your paint, But you stay like the engine’s too stubborn to break. (verse 2) You’ve got a toolbox full of patience and grace, I’m the loose bolt you can’t quite replace. You’ve rebuilt my engine more times than I’ve earned, But I’m still sputtering at every turn. You’ve got the keys to a car that could fly, But I’m the weight in the trunk you can never deny. You say, “We’re close,” but your eyes betray I always say i'm just one mile away. (Bridge) You wear my excuses like a spare tire, Keep patching my leaks with hope and barbed wire. I’m the roadblock, you’re the detour signs, But you reroute your life to fit my crooked lines. (chorus) You’re the clock that never ticks late, I’m the “check engine” light you tolerate. Your love’s a highway, I’m the traffic delay— A breakdown you’ve memorized every way. You could trade up, but you idle here, Revving your heart in the smoke of my fear. I’m the dent in your door, the scratch on your paint, But you stay like the engine’s too stubborn to break. (Outro) I’m the oil slick staining the drive, The misfire keeping us barely alive. But I’m changing the plugs, I’m cleaning the lines, I’m learning to love without crossing the lines. You’ve got every reason to shift into reverse, But I’m begging you, baby, don’t leave before I’ve nursed This “check engine” light back to a steady ride Just give me the miles to fix what’s inside.
