[Intro] [Music is sparse, almost acapella, maybe a single, hesitant, clean guitar note. Vocals are hesitant, fumbling, spoken-word, close-mic'd and intimate.] Hey, I want to get this out, but I don't know how... I want to dedicate this to the Spectrum... The whole damn thing... I... ...Uh... You could... ...no... damn it... Just Listen... let me find the beat… [False Start] My Brain…. shit… I forgot the first line... hold on... [Verse 1] My mind's always split, I sway as I sit with this intricate fear that my system is glitched The static I hear is the panic that sears, a ringing in my ears, that's been there for years. I steer through what feels like a search for a gear that will catch or a place I can perch. A new face or place and my stomach will lurch and the words that escape me, the thoughts that all spill, Are just me trying to will the damn chaos to stop and be chill. They give me a pill to stop the anxiety still, all the tension that lurks moves in reverse with these quirks, it’s a curse nothing works, but I thirst for something socially diverse, my mouth is the worst it just stumbles and blurts all the weirdest shit first, I hold my verse… and then I long for a hearse… [Interlude] [Music cuts out for a beat. Spoken, quiet, and weary.] We’re Hidden in plain sight, and that’s also our plight… [Chorus] [Music shifts dramatically to a slower, melancholic, clean alt-rock sound. Think 90s emo or grunge ballad. Vocals are weary and melodic/sung.] My Brain, This Refrain Just going straight is a strain Not Insane, Not Deranged A step gained, one in vain, a little more pain, for a lot less gain an energy drain, another trauma stain Damn… I am my own bane... [Verse 2] [The aggressive industrial rock slams back in, even more intense and frantic than before. The rap flow is faster, more breathless.] The way that my brain-waves have been criss-and-crossin', I feel like my mainframe's exhausted, I hate being lost in other people’s responses, people who hear me are frequently scoffin', (It just quirks that he's flauntin'), so why must I be respondin' With logic that's caustic? And all of this nonsense overanalyzing their lack of a conscience They don't understand the cost and so it isn't surprising the tension is rising And they think that I'm manic or fully insane So I laugh it all off to deal with the pain And I don't even care, I won't play the game I won’t stand in their shame 'Cause their logic's a claim and a wreck and it's fundamentally checked All these norms they project that I'll never respect The noise and the chaos I'm trying to hide They don't see the battle that happens inside They'll blame it on something, (His head’s in the clouds) While I'm fighting for air in these deafening crowds. It will never be fair, but I'm glad that I'm different, I'm glad for the measure and flames that are fueled by the pressure they throw at my name, to fan the creativity that lets me maintain, so here I remain! [Chorus] [The music shifts back again to the slow, melancholic, clean alt-rock chorus.] My Brain, This Refrain Just going straight is a strain Not Insane, Not Deranged A step gained, one in vain, a little more pain, for a lot less gain an energy drain, another trauma stain Damn… I am my own bane… [Bridge] [All aggressive instruments cut out. Music becomes a quiet, atmospheric, almost hopeful synth pad or a simple, clean piano melody. Vocals are a clear, direct, spoken-word address to the listener.] You can’t always tell you’re dealing with one of us, we don’t run around trying to be ‘Suss’ Remember the fact, that a stumble or stutter, is not a reason to deride one another, we’re all different, it's what makes us the same, and you not seeing that frame, That, is the real shame… [Final Chorus] [The full band crashes back in for a massive, cathartic, full-throated final chorus. Everything is at maximum emotional intensity before a hard stop or a slow fade out.] My Brain, This Re fraine Just going straight is a strain Not Insane, Not Deranged A step gained, one in vain, a little more pain, for a lot less gain an energy drain, another trauma stain Damn… I am my own bane…
