[Verse 1] Clock in, smile wide, play the part Bite my tongue just to protect my heart Mortgage, overtime, weekend plans Living for the weekend in a minivan They said work hard, keep your head down One day you’ll own a little piece of this town So I nodded along, joined the right cliques Laughed at the jokes I didn’t think were funny for years [Pre-Chorus] Nobody tells you the price you pay When you trade who you are just to fit in the game [Chorus] American Mirror, look at what I’ve become Chasing a dream that’s got me feeling numb Gave my best years to the daily grind Just to end up hating the man looking back in my eyes What a waste of time American Mirror… This ain’t living [Verse 2] Bills keep rising, the ladder don’t move Same small talk in the same damn room Acting like I’m grateful, acting like I’m fine While I’m dying slowly on company time Bought the house, bought the car, bought the lie Told myself happiness was just one more try Now the silence in the driveway hits different And I miss the version of me that had fire in it [Pre-Chorus] Nobody warned me it would feel this way Selling pieces of my soul just to afford to stay [Chorus] American Mirror, look at what I’ve become Chasing a dream that’s got me feeling numb Gave my best years to the daily grind Just to end up hating the man looking back in my eyes What a waste of time American Mirror… This ain’t living [Bridge] (vulnerable, atmospheric) If this is the dream… Why do I feel so damn empty? If this is success… Why am I barely breathing…? [Final Chorus] (raw and emotional) American Mirror, tell me the truth Was any of it ever worth losing you? I followed the rules, I played the game Now I’m standing here calling my own name American Mirror… I want my life back
