[Verse 1] They drew a little box around my name Said, "Stay inside, you'll never feel the strain" A steady chair, a borrowed point of view A life that looked like theirs, but wasn't true I tried the shape they handed me to wear Smiled on cue and swallowed every prayer The room was calm, the ceiling never moved But something in my chest refused to lose [Pre-Chorus] If comfort is a door that locks behind me If approval is a chain I cannot see Then let the hard road ask its price I would rather hurt awake than sleep politely [Chorus] I choose the road that carries my name Even when it cuts, even when it takes Give me the miles, give me the doubt Give me a heart I don't have to hide now Let the easy life pass me by I won't trade my fire for a quiet lie If I have to bend, I'll bend toward true A difficult life is better than losing you [Verse 2] I left the map beside the kitchen sink Took the first turn before I had time to think The paycheck shrank, the nights grew long But every little failure taught me where I belong My family asked when I would settle down I said, "I'm building something they can't count" No polished proof, no promise in my hand Just one small joy I finally understand [Pre-Chorus] I know the price of being hard to label I know the table may not save my place But I can meet the morning without pretending And look my own reflection in the face [Chorus] I choose the road that carries my name Even when it cuts, even when it takes Give me the miles, give me the doubt Give me a heart I don't have to hide now Let the easy life pass me by I won't trade my fire for a quiet lie If I have to bend, I'll bend toward true A difficult life is better than losing you [Bridge] Maybe happiness is not a softer bed Maybe it's the honest words I leave unsaid Maybe every bruise is evidence That I stopped asking permission to exist So if the whole world wants a smaller me Let it want; I have somewhere else to be I will build a door, I will turn the key And choose the life that keeps choosing me [Final Chorus] I choose the road that carries my name Even when it cuts, even when it takes Give me the miles, give me the doubt Give me a heart I don't have to hide now Let the easy life pass me by I won't trade my fire for a quiet lie If I have to bend, I'll bend toward true A difficult life is better than losing you [Outro] A difficult life, but the choice is mine A difficult life, and I'm doing fine No borrowed shape, no borrowed view I found the life that feels like something true
