[Verse 1] They hung a badge by the break room light With a sentence folded underneath Said wear the words and keep your place Keep your conscience in your teeth I had bills in a kitchen drawer I had hands that knew the ward But a quiet no can be a door When the hallway wants a lord [Pre-Chorus] Paper can press like iron Names can turn to chains I was hired to heal the hurting Not surrender what remains [Chorus] I would not say the line I would not sign the lie You can take my keys and my hours But you cannot take my why I would not bend my spine For a policy dressed as kind There is still a free bell ringing In the line I would not sign [Call and Response] Lead: Who owns the word in your mouth? Group: Not the tower, not the file Lead: Who keeps the flame when they crowd it out? Group: The one who stands a while [Verse 2] They called it care with a closed fist smile Called my doubt a stain to hide But mercy never needed guards To make a living heart comply I walked out under hospital glass With my name still warm in me Sometimes losing what they gave Is the first clean breath of liberty [Chorus] I would not say the line I would not sign the lie You can take my keys and my hours But you cannot take my why I would not bend my spine For a policy dressed as kind There is still a free bell ringing In the line I would not sign [Half-time Breakdown] Let the clipboard hit the floor Let the quiet find a roar No white coat, no threat, no chain Gets to rename my name [Guitar Solo] [Bridge] Four walls learned the cost of force A check cannot buy the years But every worker watching now Can hear the lock unseal [Full band slam back in] [Building] [Final Chorus] I would not say the line I would not sign the lie You can take my keys and my hours But you cannot take my why I would not bend my spine For a policy dressed as kind There is still a free bell ringing In the line I would not sign [Outro] Not the tower, not the file Not the fear they leave behind There is still a free bell ringing In the line I would not sign
