[Intro: felt piano, room tone] Your version Go 'head [Hook] In your version, I'm the monster in the hall In my version, I was never there at all Both of 'em true, and that's the worst part of it all So tell it, son, I earned the fuckin' fall [Verse 1: piano only] Parked outside the venue with the engine off and cold Heard you through the back door tellin' strangers what you hold How I put a fist the size of you right through the hallway wall And I patched it, and I painted it, you still could see it all Crowd went quiet, then they clapped, and I was proud and I was sick Both at once, like swallowin' a lit match with the wick Wanna walk in, grab the mic, and say it wasn't every night Say I worked a double, came home tired, it was never just a fight Say I bought the bike, I built the treehouse, learned to braid your sister's hair But you remember the hole, and you're right, 'cause it's still there [Hook] In your version, I'm the monster in the hall In my version, I was never there at all Both of 'em true, and that's the worst part of it all So tell it, son, I earned the fuckin' fall [Verse 2: heavy drums enter] Then you told 'em 'bout the playoffs and the spellin' bee in third Empty chair in every picture, every year, I heard I could tell you it was work, I could tell you it was money I could tell you I was savin', but the truth ain't even funny I was in a motel room two hours up the road Not a war, not a shift, I just liked the quiet, and I chose Liked the man I was when no one needed nothin' from my hands That's the ugliest true thing I ever said to any man And you're up there makin' art out of the shit I left behind Turnin' every empty chair into a line that rhymes [Bridge: drums cut, piano only, voice breaking] I'm sorry No That's too easy I'm sorry, I I kept your drawings in the glovebox Every one The dog with six legs The house with me in the window I never told you 'Cause I didn't think I earned the right to keep 'em I still don't [Beat Switch: strings swell, full kit, voice steadies into anger at himself] So tell it louder, put my worst night on a track I ain't here to make you take a single word of it back If my name's the villain, let it be the one you beat Let the whole room stomp it like a bug beneath their feet I'm the reason that you rap, I'm the reason that you're good I'm the reason that you learned to turn a hole into a hook I'd rather be a monster in a song that sets you free Than a father in the front row that you never wanted to see [Verse 3: piano and drums, quieter] Show's over, doors open, and you're walkin' to your car I could roll the window down, I could tell you who we are But I watch you laugh with friends I never met beneath the light Turn the key, pull away, let you have the night [Final Hook] In your version, I'm the monster in the hall In my version, I was never there at all Both of 'em true, but yours is the one they'll recall So tell it, son, I earned the fuckin' fall [Outro: piano, one held note] Your version Is the one I'd believe too
