[Instrumental Intro] [Verse 1] I spent a whole day answering people who don't ask How I'm doing when the conversation ends at the task Got a birthday invitation, said I'm probably gonna go Then I watched the clock get later till the answer became no My phone is full of numbers, but I'm scared to press a single one Telling jokes at lunch so nobody can tell I'm coming undone There's a photo from a party where I'm smiling in the back I remember leaving early, sitting shaking in the cab I can be the easy person, I can be the steady guy I can tell you how to get through things I barely survive Then I make it to my driveway, cut the engine, sit a minute Because going through that front door means admitting no one's in it [Pre-Chorus] I keep saying I'm all right With my breath caught in my chest There's a difference between quiet And getting any rest [Chorus] IF YOU NEED ME, I'M AVAILABLE If I need you, I don't know how I can lift the whole damn table But I can't put my own weight down I DON'T WANNA BE A BURDEN SO I NEVER MAKE A SOUND Everybody thinks I'm reachable But nobody knows where I am now [Instrumental Post-Chorus] [Verse 2] I'm the designated listener, the fixer, the dependable Professional at telling folks their pain is understandable But mine becomes a paragraph I type and then delete An apology for needing what I give away for free Told my brother I'd been busy, he said, “Busy doing what?” Couldn't say I'd spent an hour in a parking lot Practicing a sentence that was simple on the page: “I've been having a hard time.” Somehow couldn't make it past my face So I asked about his little girl, the school, the weekend plans He said, “You always turn the questions back. I know you, man.” Then he waited through the pause instead of rushing to advise I said, “I don't think I'm okay.” He said, “Thanks for saying why.” [Chorus] IF YOU NEED ME, I'M AVAILABLE If I need you, I don't know how I can lift the whole damn table But I can't put my own weight down I DON'T WANNA BE A BURDEN SO I NEVER MAKE A SOUND Everybody thinks I'm reachable But nobody knows where I am now [Instrumental Break] [Breakdown] I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO FIX ME! I DON'T NEED A PERFECT LINE! JUST DON'T CHANGE THE CONVERSATION WHEN I SAY I'M NOT ALL RIGHT! I SPENT YEARS BEING THE ANSWER! NOW I'M TRYING TO ASK FOR TIME! [Bridge] He said, “Stay on for a minute.” So we talked until the dawn Not a speech that changed my whole life Just a voice that stayed along I don't suddenly feel fearless I still struggle with that call But I said the thing I'd buried And the world didn't end at all [Final Chorus] IF YOU NEED ME, I'M AVAILABLE And I'm learning how to ask I don't have to hold the table While I'm breaking under that I DON'T WANNA BE A BURDEN BUT I WANNA STICK AROUND Everybody thinks I'm reachable Maybe someone knows me now [Instrumental Outro] [End]
