To everybody strugglin’, this is your song.
When you feel everything about you is so wrong.
And everyone tells you to move on.
So you try to pretend and play along.
It’s a feeling you’re afraid you won’t escape from.
Even more scared of what you might become.
Working so hard to keep it stable,
When there’s so much sitting on your table.
The weight feels so much like you’re not able,
Like you can’t overcome all the labels.
But you’re showing up,
And that’s alright.
So keep showing up,
It’ll be alright.
It’s a long fight.

Now the real you goes into hiding
Because there’s no one you can confide in.
You’re barely speaking up on these issues
Because all the say is “Oh my gosh, here’s a tissue.”
I understand.

Then the morning comes, can’t get out of bed.
Thinking of the day ahead, you’d rather be dead.
You hold it together, feet on the ground
Because you’re one bad moment from a breakdown.
Reminisce back when you could really shine.
But that’s the past tense, these are dark times.
You still face the day
Gotta show the world what you’re made of
‘Cause you know it’s too easy just to give up.
And you’re showing up,
And it’s alright.
And you’re not alone
In this long fight.
Give it a strong fight.

I remember when I knew you.
You were so authentic, so original.
And you didn’t mind being invisible.
Never had desires to be digital.

Now I can’t recognize you.
Never post a picture if the lighting’s wrong.
Adopt whatever trend happens to come along.
Twerking in your ******* to your favorite songs.

I can’t help but wonder
What is it that made you decide to start wearing less?
Who is it that you’re so desperate to impress?
Why you think that showing off your body equals success?
Why are you so obsessed?
What is it you want suppressed?
Always going live.
Always online.
Used to be so reserved, and so in tune
To who you are inside.

Can you confess to me,
Who is it you’re trying to be?

So it’s like that?
For so long we’ve been estranged
All because you wanted “change.”
Oh you like that?
Feeling like you’ve grown
Because you abandoned everything you’ve known?
I’m deep in your bones.
You think you could’ve survived
Out there on your own?
No, no, no….
It was me that you ran to
When the world couldn’t stand you
This picture that you paint is so contrived.
I won’t be ignored.
Show them who you wish to be,
I’m as much of you as you are of me.
I’ll be around to collect my debt
Because the mirror won’t let you forget.

I see myself from the outside.
They observe me as they are.
I laugh.
I smile.
I render a friendly gesture.
But they do not know.
And how could they?
We are tethered together, but not the same.
I grow tired of this place.
I grow tired of this dance.
I grow tired of this stage.
I grow tired of the applause.
I grow tired of this routine.

I await the end of my solitude.