[Verse 1] They pat your hand, say, “That’s rough” Pass the salt, keep it soft They love your pain at arm’s length As long as it stays off the lot They tilt their head, play kind Say your mess is such a shame But they’re only here for the version That doesn’t block their name [Pre-Chorus] Then you stand in the door Then you say, “Not this way” That’s when the room gets colder That’s when the faces change [Chorus] Private lives, private lives Till you get in the way Private lives, private lives Then the truth comes out to play Hands turn hard Smiles turn thin Private lives, private lives That’s when the gloves come in [Verse 2] Now it’s “I didn’t mean it” Now it’s “Why’d you make this hard?” Same mouth that spoke of mercy Now it’s cutting from the start They were gentle with your hurt When your hurt made room for them But cross their little line And they’ll rewrite who you are again [Pre-Chorus] Then you stand in the door Then you say, “Not this way” That’s when the room gets colder That’s when the faces change [Chorus] Private lives, private lives Till you get in the way Private lives, private lives Then the truth comes out to play Hands turn hard Smiles turn thin Private lives, private lives That’s when the gloves come in [Bridge] I saw the crack in the polish I saw the knife in the grin All their sweet little lessons Were just a door they kept me in Now I know what they mean When they say “be understanding” They mean: bend until you vanish And thank them for the landing [Final Chorus] Private lives, private lives Till you get in the way Private lives, private lives Then the truth comes out to play Hands turn hard Smiles turn thin Private lives, private lives That’s when the gloves come in Private lives, private lives Yeah, the mask won’t stay Private lives, private lives When you stand in what they crave Hands turn hard Smiles turn thin Private lives, private lives That’s when the gloves come in
