[Intro] Paper moons turn slowly over a padded room Tiny shoes in a crooked line, nobody leaves soon [Verse 1] You built soft walls, called it keeping me safe Hung a brass bell by the door, kept a key in its place Now the paint peels back where the old names hide And your good-boy rules don’t fit what’s inside You say, “Sit still,” while the floorboards shake I bite my tongue till my jawline aches You made a museum of every mistake Then act surprised when the glass starts to break [Pre-Chorus] I can hear them counting through the plaster Little hands on the pipes, getting louder, faster If I stay here, I’ll forget my own shape So I press both palms to the seam in the frame [Chorus] Padded walls and Neanderthals Tell me I’m the one who’s wrong Soft hands, hard heads, painted halls I learned to smile where I don’t belong Padded walls and Neanderthals Every kind word hides a lock You can keep your paper crown I’m done being made to fit the box [Verse 2] I kept the note you left under the plate “Be grateful, be quiet, don’t make us wait” The ink ran blue from the sink’s cold drip I read it again with a split lower lip You called it concern when you tightened the chain Called it a lesson when you fed me the blame I know every creak in the corridor bend I know which door gives, and I know where it ends [Pre-Chorus] I can hear them counting through the plaster Little hands on the pipes, getting louder, faster If I stay here, I’ll forget my own shape So I press both palms to the seam in the frame [Drop] Hold me down— I come apart in the quiet Hold me down— There’s a door and I’m trying it [Chorus] Padded walls and Neanderthals Tell me I’m the one who’s wrong Soft hands, hard heads, painted halls I learned to smile where I don’t belong Padded walls and Neanderthals Every kind word hides a lock You can keep your paper crown I’m done being made to fit the box [Bridge] If I’m too much, then say it plain Don’t dress the cage up and call it care I wore your silence like a borrowed name I leave it folded on the chair [Final Chorus] Padded walls and Neanderthals Hear the hinges give at last Soft hands, hard heads, painted halls I’m not the child you built from the past Padded walls and Neanderthals Your old rules can keep the keys You can keep your paper crown I’m out the door, and I can breathe [Outro] Paper moons fall down The hallway opens wide No little shoes in line No one tells me where to hide
