The Play

I wake up quietly, wash my face alone Force a smile in the mirror, carved in stone Tears from last night, swelling in my eyes Powder on the surface, numbing what’s inside A stranger staring back through subway glass A face I don’t even know as I pass Fading in the gray, swallowed by the crowd Are we all just actors playing roles out loud? Confident footsteps echo down the line But I keep my heart locked up inside Bitter coffee burning down my throat Getting ready for another show Smile and nod along (Every day) Pretend your heart is just like mine (All the way) Even pain feels like a joke (Lightly flow) Smile and nod along The show goes on, this glittering disguise No one ever asks what’s real inside On a stage filled with applause so loud I’m the kindest stranger in the crowd... Smile, just nod Uh — smile, just nod Fake smile, fake smile Just nod, just nod Smile now (fake it, fake it) Just nod (play it, play it) Smile — just nod Yeah, that’s the show Empty words and hollow conversations My soul checked out of this situation Polished reactions on worn-out lines Mechanical applause, rehearsed all the time All the “no”s I swallowed deep inside Sink like dust in a cup gone dry Only scripted words fill up the air Cold office walls, no one really there Smile, just nod Uh — smile, just nod Fake smile, fake smile Just nod, just nod Smile now (fake it, fake it) Just nod (play it, play it) Smile — just nod Yeah, that’s the show In a room where the lights go down I finally take this mask off now Touch my face, it feels so numb Silent tears start falling one by one Where does this story even end? Smile and nod along (Every day) Pretend your heart is just like mine (All the way) Even pain feels like a joke (Lightly flow) Smile and nod along The show goes on, but I’m breaking down No one really sees me in this crowd The sound of claps is fading out I’m the loneliest soul around... Smile — just nod Smile — just nod Fake smile Fake nod Smile now Just nod When I wake again tomorrow I’ll greet the mirror like before “Alright… time to smile again…” Smile… and nod along… (Time to play the part again…)