[Verse 1] Yeah Funny how they said “just smile” Like that fixes every scar I hide Lower back bendin’ from the weight I ride Heart got folded like a jacket on a bedside Compressed dreams Shrunk down to a screenshot Whole life judged from a rumor and a cheap shot “Stay strong” When I’m breakin’ in the bathroom stall Silent in the group chat No one ever asks at all Hard lessons hittin’ like a brick to the chin Every “L” lookin’ like I’ll never win Told me “fake it” So I practiced in the mirror ‘til it cracked Showin’ all the lines from everything I lacked I was pullin’ up my cheeks Til my jaw got sore Stretchin’ out a grin that I didn’t feel at all Positivity like clothes two sizes too tight Wearin’ all day, then I cry at night [Chorus] I had to learn to smile again At first it felt like lie pretend Mouth up, but my soul on edge Eyes dry, standin’ on that ledge I had to learn to smile again Force the light ‘til it turned from then Now it rises from a deeper place New laugh lines with an old-bruise grace [Verse 2] They say “it ain’t that bad” But they never lived here Talkin’ from the front row I’m bleedin’ in the cheap seats, gripped by fear Bills stack Friends vanish when the storm came I was doin’ CPR on my own name Sayin’ “I’m okay” So they don’t get uncomfortable Shrink myself small Til my pulse felt muffle-able Walkin’ through the day like a ghost on schedule Tryna keep it gentle World treatin’ me expendable But every heavy hit Started teachin’ me to listen To the quiet kids The tired moms The ones missin’ I saw my pain in strangers on the bus ride home Started understandin’ I was never really all alone Kept pushin’ out that forced bright grin One rep, two reps Fake joy at the gym Til one random day Heard a dumb joke Felt it pop in my chest like “oh That laugh was mine” Didn’t feel staged Didn’t feel like I was readin’ from a script on a page [Chorus] I had to learn to smile again At first it felt like lie pretend Mouth up, but my soul on edge Eyes dry, standin’ on that ledge I had to learn to smile again Force the light ‘til it turned from then Now it rises from a deeper place New laugh lines with an old-bruise grace [Bridge] Now when I grin, it’s crooked, it’s true Got history sittin’ in every tooth I bring wisdom in the wrinkles at the edge of my eyes I bring softness in the way that I don’t walk by I feel every hurt when you say you’re fine I remember watchin’ empty hallways in my mind So if I smile at you Know I see your spin I’m not lookin’ past the storm that you’re in [Chorus] I had to learn to smile again Turn the mask to a real old friend Pulled light out of all that pain Grew roots deep underneath that rain I had to learn to smile again Now I carry what I gained from then All the scars, all the care I gained I’m still here And I smile By name (yeah)
