[Intro – very quiet, ambient room tone, distant voices, soft detuned piano] (soft breath) …yeah… You are now listening to the sounds of the Best Of Our Culture… It’s The Book… (whisper) …not again… --- [Verse 1] Sometimes I just want it all to end Say it half-laughing, watchin’ how their faces bend They go, “oh c’mon… not again…” Like I’m just talkin’, like I’m playin’ pretend I stir my coffee till it’s cold and thin Somebody switch the subject like I never said a thing Eyes on me but they don’t lean in Whole room loud but I’m alone within --- [Pre-Chorus – soft, stretched, fading] Say I’m fine… (I’m fine…) Yeah I lie… (yeah I lie…) Every time I try to open up They just pass it by… --- [Chorus – melodic, fragile, layered] They say “not again… not again…” Like it’s just a line I spin Like I’m joking Like I’m fine Like this storm stays in my mind When I say I’m on the edge They just talk right through the dread Call it drama Call it pretend “Sometimes I just want it all to end…” --- [Verse 2] Scroll through old photos just to prove I used to glow They hand me silver slogans like that ever helped me grow One say “you should sleep more” One say “you should pray” Everybody got an answer till I ask them just to stay I ain’t askin’ for a fix I ain’t askin’ for a cure Just don’t look away from me When I’m not so sure --- [Pre-Chorus – slightly fuller, still restrained] Say I’m fine… (I’m fine…) But it’s thin… (wearin’ thin…) If I say it one more time Will it break me in? --- [Chorus – slightly wider, still controlled] They say “not again… not again…” Like it’s just a phase I’m in Like a movie I’ll outgrow Like there’s nothin’ they should know When I say I’m on the edge They just talk right through the dread Call it drama Call it pretend “Sometimes I just want it all to end…” --- [Verse 3 – stripped, darker tone, low drone underneath] Yeah I wish it was different Wish I wasn’t my own worst critic Learned young how to hate my reflection Now it echo in every decision “Go to your room, don’t make a sound” Still hear that voice when no one’s around All I wanted was love—what’s that? Don’t think I ever really felt that “Suck it up, stop being selfish, kid” Turn pain into somethin’ I never admit Say I’m fine but it’s wearin’ thin Feel that depression creepin’ in --- [Bridge – emotional crack, more melodic, vulnerable] What if this time I don’t bounce back? If my laugh cracks open, show all the black? Would you hear me then… If I dropped the mask? If I said “I need you…” And I didn’t take it back… --- [Break – near silence, heartbeat fades in then drops] …(breath) I meant it that time… --- [Final Chorus – fuller but fragile, layered harmonies slightly imperfect] So don’t say “not again… not again…” Sit inside the room I’m in You don’t have to fix the ache Just hold me when I shake When I say I’m on the edge Please don’t step around the ledge Don’t make light of how I bend When I say I want it all to end… --- [Outro – instruments fall apart unevenly, piano detunes, room noise remains] (soft, almost breaking) Just… stay this time… (piano fades… reverb trails stretch… silence hangs…) (barely audible, cracked whisper) …I don’t think they heard me…
