Polite Static

[Intro – spoken; warm, everyday] Hey. Sorry—didn’t mean to startle you. I’m told I have one of those… trustworthy faces. [Verse 1 – THE FACE; sweet, normal, conversational] I hold the door, I say “after you,” I laugh at all the right cues, I remember birthdays, keep my breath mint-fresh, my shoes new. I’m the guy you’d pick for “safe,” for “steady,” for “won’t make a scene,” A little boring in a comforting way—clean lines, clean hands, clean jeans. I nod like I’m listening, I mirror your tone, I soften my eyes, I make my voice a blanket so your instincts go quiet and lie. And when you say you’re tired, I say, “God, same,” like it’s a prayer— Just two normal people in the light, nothing sharp in the air. [Pre-Chorus – THE FACE; calm, reassuring] Easy. Breathe. It’s fine. I’m fine. [Chorus – BOTH; hook turns serrated, guitars creep in] Smile like you mean it, keep it nice and clean, Smile like you mean it, like you’ve never seen The split-second shadow behind the eyes— The little wrong that doesn’t blink. Smile like you mean it… It makes me feel… human, I think. [Glitch 1 – TRUE FACE; stuttered, distorted, sudden] s-s-s— NO, NO, not that smile— the one that says I don’t know what you are. the one that says run. [—cut—] [static laughter] —k-k-k-k-keep it—keep it—KEEP it— [Verse 2 – THE FACE; back to normal, almost chipper] I’m good at small talk, good at weather, good at “how’s your mom,” Good at blending into Sunday crowds like I was born a calm. I’m the kind of man you’d defend because I never raise my voice, Because I say “please” and “thank you,” like kindness is a choice. I make space, I step back, I let you lead, I let you shine— See? Respectful. Safe. Harmless. Isn’t that the easiest lie? [Pre-Chorus – THE FACE; whispery, intimate] Look at me. See? Normal. Nothing to fear. Nothing at all— [Glitch 2 – TRUE FACE; brutal honesty, chopped syllables] —EAT THE LIE. —WEAR THE LIE. —BE THE LIE. I don’t want you, I want the moment your mask slips crooked. I want the little panic-flare. I want the truth-face. I want the REAL you. [click] [click] [click] Picture-perfect. [Chorus – bigger; bright melody, ugly undertone] Smile like you mean it, keep it sweet for me, Smile like you mean it, like the world can’t see How the pretty little manners are a zipper down the skin— Just pull it slow, let the monster in. Smile like you mean it… Hold it—hold it—don’t ruin the grin. [Bridge – alternating; THE FACE lines interrupted by TRUE FACE bursts] [THE FACE; gentle] I’m just trying to connect— [TRUE FACE; glitch] c o n n e c t / c o l l e c t [THE FACE] Sometimes I get nervous too— [TRUE FACE] nerves = wires [THE FACE] I hate when people judge— [TRUE FACE] I LOVE WHEN PEOPLE GUESS WRONG [THE FACE] We’re all doing our best— [TRUE FACE] best / blest / blessed / mess [Bridge – TRUE FACE; longer break, manic and hungry but non-specific] You think monsters kick down doors—no. Monsters RSVP. Monsters bring something nice. Monsters remember your favorite drink. Monsters listen. Monsters wait until you feel safe enough to stop performing— and then— then you show me the face you didn’t mean to show. And I— I love that face. [Final Chorus – full collapse; choir of “normal” smiles turning into noise] Smile like you mean it, nice and bright and bland, Smile like you mean it, take my offered hand. Teeth out, eyes soft, make it believable— Make me think I’m like you when I’m not. Smile like you mean it— [—glitch—] SMILE LIKE YOU MEAN IT— [—glitch—] smile… like… you… …mean… …it… [Outro – THE FACE spoken; serene, polite] Perfect. That’s the one. Don’t change a thing. [Outro – TRUE FACE; faint, behind the last note] Don’t change. Anything.