Gilded Cage

Verse 1 Third chime fades, the room don’t make a sound Only scratch of lead on paper, breathing watered down Ink bleeds slow where my hand got frozen bound Like the hollow in my chest I can’t drown out Shadows move outside, whispers soft and low They all walk like they know the road they’re gonna go I’m behind the glass, watching the whole show Too scared to step in, too proud to let it show Pre-Chorus 1 I held the light they all begged to hold Thought the gilded gates would lead me to the gold But the door slammed shut before the sun could unfold Now I’m stuck here, with the mess I hold Chorus Oh, this gilded cage is all they see They cheer the shine, not the chains on me I’m drowning in the quiet they call peace Lost in the dream that I thought would set me free Oh, this gilded cage is killing me Verse 2 I used to laugh till the walls would shake Now I hold my breath so I don’t make a break In a room where even whispers feel like a mistake Every smile I force is a mask I can’t take They speak in codes I can’t decode Only one tongue I know how to hold Steal the lines to fill the empty hole Hiding from the ghost of the soul I used to know Pre-Chorus 2 They put the weight on me I can’t hold Said I’d lead the way, but I’m losing my hold The crown they gave me is cutting through my soul Now I’m stuck here, with the lie I sold Chorus Oh, this gilded cage is all they see They cheer the shine, not the chains on me I’m drowning in the quiet they call peace Lost in the dream that I thought would set me free Oh, this gilded cage is killing me Bridge They all think I know where I’m going But I’m lost in the dark, the light’s gone out They all see the name, the glow, the showing But they don’t see the fear in the doubt I miss the days when the world was wide open When the only thing that mattered was the hand I’d hold When I didn’t have to hide every part that’s broken Where did I go? The one who was bold? Now I’m hiding in the shadows where the cold don’t fold Too scared to let them see I’m losing control Chorus (Amplified, with faint layered vocals) Oh, this gilded cage is all they see They cheer the shine, not the chains on me I’m suffocating in the quiet they call peace Lost in the dream that I thought would set me free Oh, this gilded cage is killing me Outro (Fading to a whisper, only piano accompaniment) Chime fades out, moon hangs low and cold Ink still bleeds on the page I hold Gilded cage crumpled in my shaking hand I don’t know where I’m supposed to land Oh, this gilded cage is all they see (Quiet, quiet cage) Oh, this gilded cage is killing me