[verse 1] Let me tell you about these demons I fight When you're scared to death you lose the very freedom of life I need to learn to leave the past where it lies But when you wear a mask you lose sight of what it's trying to hide I was told when I was five Your thoughts become your actions, your actions become your life So be careful what you think, and I've been writing them down Was scared to let them out...but you're hearing them now Because of that fear, I'm good at faking my feelings When you fish for happiness then you're constantly reeling I'm going through the motions and the feeling is numb It's not about the journey ahead but how far that you've come Add it up and the solution is clear More times than not you're in front of the mirror when facing your fear And honestly, I never like the reflection Seems my only protection are these imperfections [hook] All you see is the surface, misdirection is perfect When you draw back the curtains, then you get the full person We all wear a mask, keeping it on is a task The only question is now, how long will it last How long will it last The only question is, how long will it last You've only seen the surface, and that was on purpose Time to draw back the curtains, here's the full person [verse 2] Just me all alone, jumping the ship Throwing shit against the wall hoping something will stick It's my only chance of getting out of this place Love it to the point I really hated showing my face I'm so transparent, has no one really caught on Some would say it falls on me, something I had brought on I can't disagree, this isnt what I planned on The type to take the first step with no leg to stand on So I'm sacrificing status to garner success Trading looks of pride for whispers that my patience will test Your opinions will be shifted, respect will be lost I've paid more for less, so that's a minimal cost Used to worry too much, but that notion has left me Wasted time on people who will never accept me Its not a revelation, so no need for this mask The breaking point has come and gone, freedom at last [verse 3] So my control has certainly faded A little narcissism mixed with a little self hatred Making jokes is my mechanism to cope The criticism alone lets me know my system is broke It's like my conscious wants to harbor the source Proves that my preparation isn't par for the course Peace of mind, just one day at a time So when you look deep inside, this is what you will find

[hook] I keep swimming in this broken dream - just trying to make it through And if I make it to the other side - I hope I see you [verse 1] You see this is no admission You don't need contrition if you always follow your vision See ambition always gets the credit But with no patience, more choices get regretted And you forget where you're headed Confuse lack of direction for a lack of perspective You can back-track to the right path, but my math says fate doesn't let it This is who I dare to be, I'm searching for clarity On the road to prosperity - this is my therapy Understanding is wanted but I won't beg A dream deferred and it's really on it's last leg I need people in my corner to help build me up Fill me up with inspiration, no option of giving up I'mma keep pushing through these lonely nights Fighting for a single dream, yeah it's only right This is the anthithisis of what is accepted Left with the ambivalence to defend and protect it (I gotta protect it) [verse 2] I think the stress is catching up to me Most nights anxiety is my only company So what do you want from me? Trying to keep it together But there's much more to the storm that I'm trying to weather See a lot of people tapping out and excepting their position Down the line they have to be convinced they made the right decision You gave up...said your dreams are too far fetched Better stretch your imagination til there's no time left We're fighting gravity, watching the sand fall through the hour glass As every hour passes, it's agony When one door closes there's a chance another opens But if not, you better learn how to build one quick Enough with the excuses, pointing the finger, placing the blame Same song, different singer, we're all facing the same Hid this ambition thinking it was just a phase that would pass I've had enough of that, I'm going for it at last

[intro] They said I'd never make it, I was They told me I was crazy, of pure insanity [verse 1] Been gone for 3 years chasing a dream (dream) Turn into a nightmare Learned nothing ever is what it really seems (seems) Life doesn't fight fair Can't sleep without pills, my habits are killing me Limit me to one vice and I'll be fine Every time I think I got a grasp on my life It slips away from me and now I all have is...time I must be crazy A fine line between being patient and being lazy 'Nother get together, don't want to show up Tired of the looks like when you gon grow up He has a new job and a new wife And he also just bought a brand new house But I bet if you asked him about his brand new life He'd trade it with mine with no doubt [hook] The lights are flashing, this life got me catching a disease But none of it matters to me I got the lights flashing, but I keep myself at 98 degrees But none of it really matters to me [verse 2] Different isn't better And we're better off not better than Took some time to figure that out So who I used to be isn't who I am It doesn't make a difference People make you do time for your past crimes And they do it with persistence Then they try to make distance When they know deep down there isn't much of a difference Been an outcast since way back Doesn't faze me in the least So when I try to make a new path I want to relapse and revert back to the same old theme Some say degenerate addict Most say a good guy with high ambition Perception's the enemy of the truth And reality seems to be a big omission If you quantify success with a dollar amount You can count on failure And if the safe bet is never making a bet Than I'd say that's one hell of a wager Might as well double down, turn your luck around It sounds enticing You might feel whole while you're chasing the gold But really it's your soul that you're pricing [bridge] To take the high road always comes with a toll May the change you use to pay never come with your soul To take the high road always comes with a toll May the change you use to pay never come with your soul

[verse 1] A familiar feeling but something isn't right It's been such a long time, since we shared a night Thought it was a joke, but you wasn't laughing Get your ass over here, enough with all the question asking Let me take your innocence and leave there with no witnesses Together we were limitless, but you just had to finish it You're having second thoughts, why did you ever leave Because your perfect man was something you knew I could never be He doesn't do the things you took for granted with me The doubt growing in your head's because I planted that seed Selling dreams on commission, so I need you to buy Easier to dress up a lie when the truth is willing to hide So when you called I was surprised, hooking up with your ex Never took you for a girl who gives in to regrets So now I have you naked in my bed, down for whatever And deep down you know that you will never have better [hook] She only wanted one last taste In her mind you're already replaced But she wants to scratch that itch, willing and eager When she says she's ready for it then you need to believe her But she only wanted one more night Who are you to try to put up a fight And she wants to scratch that itch and be in control And feel when she left, she left with a piece of your soul [verse 2] Got off on the thrill, never thought you would cheat Now the scenario is real, what you need is discreet With me you know the secret is to be kept Love the irony of the cross bouncing off of your neck But the last time I checked, we're no longer a 'we' We're a used to be, now we hook up weekly if right we're both free I'm the excitement, I'm the taboo, I'm the ex I'm the story you never tell, but still who you want next I'm the passion you're missing, what your moaning reflects We both knew what you needed as soon as you sent me that text In a moment of weakness, true colors reveal Nothing is as black and white as you usually feel There's no strings attached to this balancing act And we're using each other to get over the fact That this is the final act, the last time in this spot Before we part for good so baby give me all that you got

[verse 1] You've been on my damn mind for 2 months - it's driving me nuts Mainly because 2 nights wasn't enough Everything I look for, I seen it Might have been feeding you lines but I was hoping you could read in between it But drinks started flowing fast and we couldn't keep up Time perceived by drunken minds always speeds up, so we lost it Was thinking smash at first, I'm thinking that could work Something 'bout the thirst, that always makes you act the worst But you caught me off guard, now I'm interested Time was limited, nothing went unsolicited, I was turned on You told me you believe You wanna catch your dreams, you gotta be willing to chase em and let the fire burn on I was sold, not a thing could be told I needed more of you, girl, favor fortunes the bold That night you turned me on time after time Not just from showing me your body but from showing your mind [hook] Those two nights, they were too short Those two nights, they were too short If something's too good to be true... What's the chances that includes you... [verse 2] You've been on my damn mind for 2 months - it's driving me nuts Mainly because 2 nights wasn't enough High standards, they tell me it's my biggest hurdle But when you're only chasing tail, you're just running in circles So you took me by surprise, the full package So attractive with the brains to back it imagine, no baggage Gave me a tour of campus at 2 in the morning Moaning in less than an hour later, feeling something is forming The best I've had with somebody I just met Out of breath, thinking 'damn' as we lied there covered in sweat You told me love is a disease but you're hoping to catch it And there's no need to preach because your life is your message From that moment, I was sold, not a thing could be told I needed more of you, girl, favor fortunes the bold That night you turned me on time after time Not just from showing me your body but from showing your mind [verse 3] You've been on my damn mind for 2 months - it's driving me nuts Mainly because 2 nights wasn't enough A weekend full of the unexpected Sex unprotected, reckless living, too much drinking but these stories collected I'll remember forever, the clever girl with the world in her sights Trying to fight the urge to be another waste of a life You had the dreams with the will to succeed You wanted money sure but you really want to believe You could make a difference, the spirit of an angel You made me a believer too which made leaving you painful Your the type that makes you believe in a god That statement says a lot for me which makes it even more odd From that moment, I was sold, not a thing could be told I needed more of you, girl, favor fortunes the bold That was the last night we were together A world apart but my heart tells me it wouldn't get better

[verse 1] This is self-destruction, resetting the system Clashing with your morals to the point that you're trying to list them Sometimes you need to cross the line to make sure that it's there And take a break from reality and then pretend that you care Been good for too long, not sure where I'm headed Only thing I know is if I don't go, I'll regret it So, I'm throwing money at these vices, hoping to numb it Prices are highest when you want it, I try not to become it But I reek of alcohol, smoke and stripper perfume Glitter on my pillow case catches the light from the room Found out I have a weakness for these girls who are broken They need a pick-me-up, so I put faith in their hopes and Dreams and make it seem I believe in their chance to succeed But all I really need is a dance and then a kiss on the cheek Don't recognize this person who I am quickly becoming Every choice is an injection so I'm dealing with numbing [hook] Stepping to the edge just too see what that feelings like Scared of missing out more than I'm afraid of heights These choices I make, I might regret a few But tonight I think I'll enjoy the view I'll just enjoy the view I'll just enjoy the view These choices I make, I might regret a few But tonight I think I'll enjoy the view [verse 2] The slope is too slick to keep a grip on this shit Falling too quick, kinda miss not taking a risk But that's a recipe for a disease and it's safe to assume My contact in the past proves I'm not likely immune Never wanted to be with the rest of the group It never mattered to me but hey maybe it mattered to you Now I feel I missed out and it's getting harder to fight it Harder to hide it, temptation at my door uninvited True freedom's not caring what others think of your choices Feeling hopeless, cause fighting it is seemingly pointless Staying out til dawn, spending more than I'm saving Behaving in a way I've spent most my life hating Has me in VIP with this dancer insisting Cause she's been taught to spot a man who has a problem resisting She caught me at a bad time and I'm glad that she did Who knew you had to let go of your pride to finally live [verse 3] Soon enough will come quicker the shorter the fuse The self-abuse is too much cause I have too much to lose All the booze and pills are only bandages to these wounds The pain never goes away when we're under the moon These lessons learned from a phase that happened too late Repercussions from those choices only adds to the weight Took a wait and see approach, I'm hoping it works And if it doesn't, I'm hoping that it doesn't get worse (But) With all that being said, I don't regret it at all The safe bet is only correct when you're afraid of the fall Not proud of every choice but still happy I made them Took each pro and con, examined over twice and then weighed them If you want to live reckless, and then step out on that edge No matter the consequences you have to sleep in that bed But if you're tired of being told what you can and can't do Take another step and join me in enjoying the view

[verse 1] Sitting at a crossroads, I'm hitting a wall Right or wrong I see this isn't my decision at all Understand my hand is forced and this gun's to my head I've begun a new chapter, ink from this pen will be red What hasn't been said I'm a cautionary tale Prisoner of the mind and my life was set as the bail Don't think you understand the type of path that Im paving Engraving an epitaph of a soul that's worth saving My guilt not in question, volunteer a confession Had to erase the presence that produce the obsession That song was on repeat until the batteries died The criticism already killed what the flattery tried Had to get beyond the restrictions I had to carry that out while forging all the conviction Still left with the unexplained to fill in the blanks Running away from the scene on with only fumes in the tank [hook] I'm losing control of my life, it's about time I got it right Not a crime if it happens in my mind My way of retribution Is also my stay of execution [verse 2] Sometimes you have to kill to protect whats vital Suicidal thoughts aren't connected with your survival But in this case, I had to murder someone I loved Outgrew the old persona that used to fit like a glove Hated what I was, had faith I could change Hard to take a shot when you know you're out of your range Hard to imagine all the pain I suppress Obsess about it to the point I start breaking in sweat Not to mention the stress, it manifests in these mysterious ways Close to the edge, at a curious stage My compass was off, recalibration's expensive New me accepts the past, old me gets defensive My heart grew cold With ice forming inside it, I had to winterize it so I wouldn't explode Maybe it's not enough But I wouldn't be the person I am if I didn't kill the person I was [bridge]2x My way of retribution Is also my stay of execution [verse 3]2x This life isn't mine, it's for you to decide My legacy and if it's even worth keeping alive Through this feeling, I discovered The meaning of life is what your life means to others

[verse 1] Wish I could take a break from life and reassess all these decisions Relearn the wrong from right then repossess these inhibitions Would rather tell a lie and dress it up to sell it better But the best time in life to live a lie is always never I'm in this place, saving face from what I built Wonder those who made it, do they ever have survivor's guilt Excuse the self-doubt, not proud of these moments But when you're wrong so many times, you're looking for atonement Cliches define me, ambition blinds me Fate declined me, the stress reminds me I'm only human but I want to fix these imperfections Rationalizations serve as my slick deflections Happy that I don't accept, what's considered less Than the expectations that only I will set Of all the shots I take, the pain isn't missing me Wish I wasn't smart enough to recognize my misery [verse 2] I have a mental block, the last time I checked The hands on the clock, feel like they're around my neck The grip gets tighter, with each passing second With every lasting question, time gives another lesson Not impressed with how you choose to define success A numbers game, plain and simple, what do you possess Plagiarized life stories, still with time to alter Who wants their legacy written by another author And I have writer's block, staring at a blank page Watching others filled with inspiration while I'm filled with rage A history of victory in my periphery And all I'm left with is recognition of my misery Happy that I don't accept, what's considered less Than the expectations that only I will set Of all the shots I take, the pain isn't missing me Wish I wasn't smart enough to recognize my misery

[verse 1] To tell you the truth I've been better, not that you're asking When you take all these loses you also lose passion Don't mistake that for giving up, there's a big difference Ignore the insistence just my way to make distance Learned when you get your hopes up and everything's great That's around the same time, those same hopes will deflate Future looking bright, things going according to plan Looking back, I think that's when the warnings began Should have known, once again fell for that trap The same hand that fed me is now holding me back I need some help too ashamed to ask I'm going to die over pride, in my mind I think this pain won't last So I'm not defeated just a little beaten The way I've treated my demons is the reason I'm weakened So it's my fault You don't blame gravity when you fall I'm just trying to rid this agony once and for all [verse 2] I'm now an example Back at sqaure one but can't find the right angle Feel so alone even though others share in the pain Spent my extra time busy just repairing my name I can't spare any change but I want to evolve You're the problem if you don't think there's a problem to solve Support system needs fixed Not my family, need friends willing to roll sleeves without any tricks We're clearly far These side-view mirror friends will have you thinking you're closer than you really are Energy wasted, friendships faded Like connections were traded for memories, and it's all so hard Wasting away, some are chasing the pain I relate because I'm facing the same And that's a tough pill to swallow Here's the real sorrow Those days were better because today was tomorrow

[verse 1] Every day struggle being trapped in this bubble Other places I'd rather be, I can think of a couple Definition of desolate, isolation is definite If I had an occupation life wouldn't be decadent But it is what it is, coping best as I can Sleepless nights are now common, busy scheming a plan Dreaming of other lands away from this barren oasis Scared of being like them, am I becoming complacent Blending in more as each day passes Where's the inspiration that's known for lighting fire under asses Point me in that direction, need to escape Afraid it's too late, has my talent wasted away Love where I'm from, it's where my heart lies But the unknown's exactly where my future resides Always knew one day, I might outgrow And that day is here now, so it's time that I go [hook] It's cold in Ohio tonight Our dreams keeping us warm It's cold in Ohio tonight Deep in our soul where the feeling is born It's cold in Ohio tonight Our dreams keeping us warm It's cold in Ohio tonight It's cold in Ohio tonight [verse 2] See so many people busy settling down Calling it a life while I'm still trying to figure mine out Marriage, kids, careers, buying a house Think I'm glad I'm not them but then I'm having my doubts I'm the guy who's been gone for 3 years, chasing a dream They buy the illusion really it's not at all what it seems Have more debt than I care to admit Spend money I don't have on things I don't need and it's getting harder to quit Don't get me wrong, I've done some really cool shit Experienced more than what a normal life would typically get But stories get old, and they fade away Pessimistic thoughts in the back of my mind, hoping that's where they stay Love where I'm from, it's where my heart lies But the unknown's exactly where my future resides Always knew one day, I might outgrow And that day is here now, so it's time that I go [bridge]2x What I'm looking for can't be found here So I'm moving on but where is unclear Like my good friend said, see It's a good place to be from, just not a good place to...be What I'm looking for can't be found here So I'm moving on but where is unclear Like my good friend said, see It's a good place to be from, just not a good place to...be [verse 3] Just a kid from the Midwest trying my best To make it before my body and mind give in to the stress I don't hate this place though, far from it in fact But the truth is this small town is holding me back Love where I'm from, it's where my heart lies But the unknown's exactly where my future resides Always knew one day, I might outgrow And that day is here now, so it's time that I go