Not unless you beg me to
Not unless you peel my fingers away
Not unless you ignore my cries
Not unless you push until I can't hold on

I won't let go because I need you
I won't let go because I see you
I see you in my life, years from now
Even when I can't see myself

So if (when) you finally want to escape
I'll scream and cry and shout and sob
And I'll hold on until I'm sure
I can't keep you here with me

And when I'm stretched thin
Juggling all the victims I've chained to me
I know you'll break away and run
And I wouldn't be able to follow

So as long as I've got you
I won't let you go
I've got an iron grip
That disguises itself as freedom

And you're crying now
Because you thought you were free
Because you thought I was sane
Sane enough to let you leave me

You're beating at the chains
And they break under your bretreyal
And I break with them, and I cry
And you, so kind, stop in guilt

I won't let go until you make me
You've got to train me to open my hands
I'm the child clinging to your leg
The dog nipping at your heels

I won't let go, so pry away my fingers
And I'll lay about all day waiting for you
To remember me and come home
And pretend you never left

Every time you return
I'll have a new chain
A stronger chain
To bind you to me

Don't leave me
Don't leave me
I can learn to let go
*Please, please don't leave.