Nobody Gets To Rename Me

Been carrying fear for so long the only word that fits is heavy it sat on my chest, made every door feel like it was built to keep me out I was scared of almost everything but mostly of one thing: what if they never saw me for who I was trying to become? How do you say out loud what you don't have language for yet? I knew something was off my reflection and my skin moving out of sync 그들은 그걸 disorder라 불렀고 [Geudeul-eun geugeol disorderla bulleossgo || They called it a disorder] so I started thinking maybe I was broken maybe I was the problem the names, the pushing, the locker room stares already too much to carry I tried once and they looked straight through me like I was a hoodie on a chair in the back of the room 그 조용함은 더 아프게 들어와 [Geu joyongham-eun deo apeuge deul-eowa || That silence cuts even deeper] it sent me back inside myself I was scared, scared, scared for way too long but the second I said my name, I came in loud hey, hey, I’m still here say it again, 난 여기 있어 [Say it again, nan yeogi iss-eo || Say it again, I’m right here] watch me, watch me I won’t back down, 절대 멈추지 않아 [I won’t back down, jeoldae meomchuji anh-a || I won't back down, I'll never stop] Hands up, heads high, shoulders loose black jacket, heartbeat, stomping through I am who I am, shout it back to me, 나는 나야 [I am who I am, shout it back to me, naneun naya || I am who I am, shout it back to me, I am who I am] nobody gets to rename me I was scared, scared, scared for way too long now my name hits back when they try to shut it down It took almost twenty more years to finally step into the frame the fear never left I just got too tired to hide Not being myself kept knocking at the door every mirror, every lie until I couldn't shut it out 우린 이제 더 많은 말을 알게 됐고 [Ulin ije deo manh-eun mal-eul alge dwaessgo || We’ve come to know more words now] more care, more understanding but the spotlight still turns mean tailored suits and church podiums pointing at us trying to make us a warning trying to turn our lives into a headline They go for the vulnerable then act shocked when we stay If that pull is on your throat, if one more word could crack you open, hear me now: 너는 미친 게 아니야, 늦은 것도 아니야 [Neoneun michin ge aniya, neuj-eun geosdo aniya || You aren’t crazy, and you aren’t late, either] stop shrinking, stop waiting, stand up now you are not too much say your name out loud I was scared, scared, scared for way too long but the second I said my name, I came in loud hey, hey, I’m still here say it again hey, hey, can you hear me? say it louder watch me, watch me I won’t back down Hands up, heads high, make some room front row, back row, everybody move black jacket, heartbeat, stomping through I am who I am, shout it back to me if you know my name, then sing it with me if you feel that pull, don’t fold now nobody gets to rename me I was scared, scared, scared for way too long now my name hits back when they try to shut it down