NEON GRAVES — “MY DEMONS KNOW THE WORDS” [Verse 1 — low, driving guitars] I kept a notebook underneath my bed, Full of all the things I never said. Some nights I’d cross them out until they bled, Then lie awake and hear them in my head. Tonight I brought those pages here instead, Unfolded under stage lights burning red. [Pre-Chorus] My hands were shaking on the microphone, I almost said, “Forget it, let’s go home.” Then someone in the front yelled, “That’s my song!” I hit the first line— You all sang along. [Chorus] My demons know the words— They’ve heard every verse. Now a thousand strangers Sing louder than the hurt. Whoa-oh, give it back to me! All the things we couldn’t say, finally breaking free. Turn it up until it hurts— Even my demons know the words. [Verse 2 — bass forward, drums opening up] A woman by the speakers caught my eye, Sang a line I wrote when I could barely try. Her friend threw both his hands toward the sky, Missed the note and laughed until he cried. Wait—cut the band, let the crowd ride. [Verse 2 — continued] I used to think those words would leave me dry, Now I could sing them here until July. You gave that lonely page a battle cry, I grinned so hard I missed my own reply. [Pre-Chorus] These walls have heard a hundred bands before, But I’ve never felt my feet like this before. You took a song I couldn’t sing alone And made this crowded room Feel like a home. [Chorus] My demons know the words— They’ve heard every verse. Now a thousand strangers Sing louder than the hurt. Whoa-oh, give it back to me! All the things we couldn’t say, finally breaking free. Turn it up until it hurts— Even my demons know the words. [Bridge — stripped to kick drum and crowd] Tomorrow, I might wake up heavy. Tonight, I get to feel this good. I used to hide these pages from you— Now you’re singing where I stood. No, the past ain’t getting prettier. But listen to that sound: The line I wrote with no one near me Coming back from all around. [Breakdown — call and response] Who knows the words? WE KNOW THE WORDS! Who brought the hurt? WE BROUGHT THE HURT! Then take a breath— Let the whole room burst! [Final Chorus — full band, gang vocals] My demons know the words— But you’ve got every verse. Now a thousand strangers Sing louder than the hurt. Whoa-oh, give it back to me! All the things we couldn’t say, finally breaking free. Turn it up until it hurts— Even my demons know the words. [Outro — crowd carries the melody] Whoa-oh, we know the words. Whoa-oh, we know the words. For once, the loudest voice inside Is yours.
