anti-hero, midnights: i wake up screaming from dreaming one day i'll watch you as you're leaving and life will lose all its meaning for the last time.
gold rush, evermore: i don't like a gold rush. i don't like anticipating my face in a red flush. i don't like that anyone would die to feel your touch. everybody wants you, everybody wonders what it would be like to love you. walk past, quick brush, i don't like slow motion double vision in rose blush. i don't like that falling feels like flying 'til the bone crush (...) what must it be like to grow up that beautiful? with your hair falling into place like dominoes. my mind turns your life into folklore, i can't dare to dream about you anymore.
you're on your own, kid, midnights: i hosted parties and starved my body like i'd be saved by a perfect kiss (...) i looked around in a blood-soaked gown and i saw something they can't take away. 'cause there were pages turned with the bridges burned, everything you lose is a step you take. so make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it, you've got no reason to be afraid. you're on your own, kid, yeah, you can face this.
cardigan, folklore: you drew stars around my scars, but now i'm bleeding. 'cause i knew you, steppin' on the last train, marked me like a bloodstain (...) but i know you'd linger like a tattoo kiss, i knew you'd haunt all of my what-ifs(...) i knew you'd miss me once the thrill expired, and you'd be standin' in my front porch light, and i knew you'd come back to me.
champagne problems, evermore: "this dorm was once a madhouse", i made a joke, "well, it's made for me" (...) "she would've made such a lovely bride, what a shame she's fucked in the head," they said.
the 1, folklore: i guess you never know, never know. and if you wanted me you really should've showed, and if you never bleed, you're never gonna grow, and it's alright now.
exile, folklore: all this time i never learned to read your mind (never learned to read my mind), i couldn't turn things around (you never turned things around), 'cause you never gave a warning sign (i gave so many signs), so many signs, so many signs. you didn't even see the signs. i think i've seen this film before and i didn't like the ending. you're not my homeland anymore so what am i defending now? you were my town, now i'm in exile, seein' you out.
my tears ricochet, folklore: and i can go anywhere i want, anywhere i want, just not home. and you can aim for my heart, go for blood, but you would still miss me in your bones. and i still talk to you (when i'm screaming at the sky), and when you can't sleep at night (you hear my stolen lullabies). i didn't have it in myself to go with grace, and so the battleships will sink beneath the waves. you had to kill me, but it killed you just the same, cursing my name, wishing i stayed, you turned into your worst fears, and you're tossing out blame, drunk on this pain, crossing out the good years. and you're cursing my name, wishing i stayed, look at how my tears ricochet.
the lakes, folklore: take me to the lakes where all the poets went to die, i don't belong, and my beloved, neither do you. those windermere peaks look like a perfect place to cry, i'm setting off, but not without my muse, no, not without you.
willow, evermore: the more that you say, the less i know, wherever you stray, i follow. i'm begging for you to take my hand, wreck my plans, that's my man.
style, 1989: you got that james dean daydream look in your eye, and i got that red lip classic thing that you like, and when we go crashing down, we come back every time, 'cause we never go out of style. you got that long hair, slicked back, white t-shirt; and i got that good girl faith and a tight little skirt.
cruel summer, lover: i'm drunk in the back of the car, and i cried like a baby coming home from the bar. said, "i'm fine," but it wasn't true (...) and i screamed for whatever it's worth "i love you," ain't that the worst thing you ever heard?
peace, folklore: i'd give you my sunshine, give you my best, but the rain is always gonna come if you're standin' with me. but i'm a fire and i'll keep your brittle heart warm. if your cascade ocean wave blues come. all these people think love's for show, but i would die for you in secret. the devil's in the details, but you got a friend in me. would it be enough if i could never give you peace?
would've, could've, should've, midnights: you're a crisis of my faith (...) if clarity's in death, then why won't this die? years of tearing down our banners, you and i. living for the thrill of hitting you where it hurts, give me back my girlhood, it was mine first. and i damn sure never would've danced with the devil, at nineteen. and the god's honest truth is that the pain was heaven. and now that i'm grown i'm scared of ghosts, memories feel like weapons. and now that i know i wish you'd left me wondering. god rest my soul, i miss who i used to be, the tomb won't close, stained glass windows in my mind, i regret you all the time. i can't let this go, i fight with you in my sleep, the wound won't close.
tolerate it, evermore: i made you my temple, my mural, my sky; now i'm begging for footnotes in the story of your life. drawing hearts in the byline; always taking up too much space or time. you assume i'm fine, but what would you do if i break free and leave us in ruins? took this dagger in me and removed it? gain the weight of you then lose it? believe me, i could do it. if it's all in my head tell me now, tell me i've got it wrong somehow. i know my love should be celebrated, but you tolerate it.