Cardboard Dragon

[Intro – soft piano arpeggios, faint snow wind sound] Snow crunches under scuffed up shoes Cardboard wings glued with old blue glue [Verse 1 – gentle trap beat, piano continues] I built him from boxes and faded dreams Scrawled scales with a marker, ripped at the seams Told myself he’d breathe fire, carry me far Away from the voices that left scars [Pre-Chorus – rising harmonies, subtle bassline] The hill looms tall, my hands shake cold But I climb on up, let the fear unfold He’s just cardboard, but I make him real A weapon to fight the way I feel [Chorus – full pop production, layered vocals] Cardboard dragon, take me high Bury the demons that make me die Wind in my hair, snow in my eyes I’m gonna outrun the lies [Verse 2 – slightly faster trap beat, added snare] I hit the slope, he roars so loud I swear his wings catch the cloud But the ice cuts sharp, my grip gives way He twists and turns, starts to sway [Pre-Chorus – intensified harmonies, heavier bass] The voices scream, “you’ll never win” The dragon’s teeth dig into my skin I hold on tight, refuse to fall Gonna stand through this, stand tall [Chorus – more energetic, added synth layers] Cardboard dragon, fight with me Break the chains that bind my feet Snow burns my face, but I won’t flee I’m gonna set myself free [Interlude – piano solo, soft harmonies hummed in background] (Instrumental Solo) [Bridge – stripped back, piano only, raw vocals] I woke up cold, half-buried in snow The dragon crumpled, his wings torn slow I thought I’d lost, thought the demons won But my heart still beat, still holding on [Final Chorus – full production, soaring harmonies, maximum intensity] Cardboard dragon, you taught me how To face the dark, to stand proud I didn’t need fire, didn’t need wings Just the will to rise, to fix the things [Outro – fading piano, soft snow wind sound] Snow stops falling, sun breaks through I stand up tall, brand new