Crumbling (Decent Vocals)

[Intro]

[Verse 1 - restrained with simmering tension]
We fought like it was normal.—
With words we didn’t mean. —
You said you'd keep your distance. —
But you were still too close to me.
every crowded party, we acted like friends.
Dancing 'round each other,  trying to forget.
The way our lips touched in the dark
Left you feeling cheap and scarred. —
Your fangs came out when I broke the truce
All my stupid comments, casually cruel
I could hear your anger and desire
Only added fuel to the fire 

[Pre-Chorus]
I thought I had control 
Thought I was safe alone 
But every step from you 
Felt like losing home.

[Chorus - emotional release, swelling, longing]
All the excuses
I tried to hold onto
every lie I told myself
Was keeping me from you
Called it safe and fine.
I didn’t have a clue
all the walls i built inside — have been
crumbling since I met you

[Verse 2 - soft and intimate, building intimacy]
Walking off the alcohol— [pause]
we were finally free — [pause]
I told you my story. — [pause]
You stopped and hugged a tree.

We stood at your car, the air got cold 
all of our heat suddenly exposed
Looking for a reason not to say goodbye 
Too close to run, too scared to fly

[beat drops in, driving acoustic strum, urgent and breathless and rough vocal, visceral shift in energy]
One little touch and we were electric 
Clutching my shirt, you stumbled and melted 
I pushed against your body to see if we'd bend 
You looked in my eyes, and I tried to pretend

[Pre-Chorus - raw, urgent]
Like I didn't even see you, 
Like I couldn't feel your pain
Like I didn’t want to kiss you, 
and just let gravity win

[Chorus - emotional release, more open]
All the excuses
I tried to hold onto
every lie I told myself
Was keeping me from you
Called it safe and fine.
but I didn’t have a clue
all the walls i built inside — have been
crumbling since I met you

[Bridge - exposed, confessional, desparate]
What if I told you I finally see
What I was doing to you, doing to me
I kept you close enough to hide my shame
Used your love against you in a losing game
Now standing at the edge, defenses gone
Stripped down to nothing, still holding on
Is it too late to tell you how I feel
What if I said I want this to be real

[final chorus - big release triumphant full release]
All the excuses
I tried to hold onto
every lie I told myself 
Was keeping me from you
Called it safe and fine.
but I didn’t have a clue
all the walls i built inside — have been
crumbling since I met you
all the waaaaalls I built.
Are crumbling for you

[outro]

[End]