[Intro – low, spoken] Skull black coffee, steam like memory, wind-shaken trees and a rising sun… You wanted me broken so you could feel tall— but I built a castle, and I watched you fall. [Verse 1] I heard what you said, yeah, I smiled through my teeth You want me small, bowed down, underneath But I’ve been through hell, and I walked out whole Didn’t sell my name, didn’t sell my soul I brushed my cat’s hair under wind‑shaken trees Made coffee in the mug that speaks back to me The leaves fall loud when the veil gets thin And I know what’s waiting isn’t where I’ve been You paint me crazy so you don't feel wrong But I’ve been strong where you’ve played along I don’t break easy, I just break chains Try to throw dirt — I rise like rain My brother knew — he saw the Book He saw the mirror before the world could look Now he’s resting in the Ice Castles high And I am the one who stayed to ask why [Pre-Chorus – blended] You call it love when you beat it raw I called it out and you called it law They say I’m just a hill girl gone mad But I’m the one who never turned back [Hook – Castle x Not The One] I built the castle, room by room Through trash heaps, mirrors, and golden blooms Through questions, silence, ash and flame Through being the girl with no name I’m not the one, never been, never will You can drag your mess, but I’m standing still You want me bleeding so you don’t feel fake But I don’t bend just to watch you break [Verse 2] They offered leisure, drinks by the pool But I asked what’s past the edge of this rule She handed me a map she’d never read A castle drawn in the ice ahead I won’t pretend this world makes sense I’ve seen the masks behind the fence You chase the paper, I chase the flame You need the crowd — I don’t need a name Why didn’t I want to stay there and rest? Because I remembered the higher steps Through portals and bunkers and underground doors Through murder rooms and slipper codes and more They said I was weak ‘cause I walked away But they stayed stuck, rotting in decay You stayed in the lie, I stepped through the fire I turned every wound to another empire [Bridge – whispered / rapped] Nah — I’m not your mirror to project your sin Not your cage to keep your chaos in 10:10 on the stove again, map in my frozen hands I’m carving out a kingdom with my own two hands My brother said, “I can’t stay here” But I heard him whisper through the mirror: “Keep building. Keep singing. I’m not gone. I’m just watching from the mountain, love—go on.” You wanted me broken so you could feel tall But I burned the ladder and watched you fall [Chorus – call and response] I’m not the one for your games, your blame Don’t play me down ‘cause I won’t play tame You want me silent, soft, and spun? You got the wrong witch — I’m not the one (I built the castle, brick by breath) Through grief and fire and almost‑death (Through “you’re too much” and “you’re not enough”) Through every mirror that got too rough I changed my number, I cut the line I called my soul back into time And now I sit where leaves fall free In the castle that is me [Final Build – intertwined] I’m not the one, don’t confuse my light With permission to pull me into your fight I’ve buried too many lies to run Now I stand, crowned in the rising sun I built the castle, no one gave me land I carved it open with my own hands No prince, no crown, no fairy spell Just ash and ember and a rising bell I’m not the one to twist or fold I’ve been the truth while you bought and sold So mark my words — it’s already begun You lost your grip— I’m not the one I built the castle and now it sings With candle smoke and ancient rings I am not lost, I am the key I built the castle— I am me.
