nobody understands

NOBODY UNDERSTANDS [Intro — almost whispered] Yeah… Funny how a house can be full of people And still feel empty. [Verse 1 — slow rap] I hear voices through the walls, but none of them are mine, Everybody talking over everybody all the time. I learned to keep my mouth shut, learned to stay out of sight, 'Cause sometimes being invisible feels safer for the night. There's a picture on the wall where everybody looks happy, Funny how a photograph can hide what happens badly. I stare at it for hours, wondering when we changed, When “family” started sounding like a word I couldn't name. I got questions in my head that I never say aloud, So I bury them in music underneath the sound. And maybe that's the problem—I got too good at hiding, So everybody thinks I'm fine while something's slowly dying. [Chorus — sung, sad] Nobody understands, nobody understands, How quiet a heart can get. Nobody understands, nobody understands, How much I haven't said yet. I smile when they look, I disappear when they don't, Everybody thinks they know me… But nobody understands. [Verse 2 — faster, building] I got anger in my bloodstream, memories in my head, Things I wish I could forget, things I wish I never said. Every argument echoes even after it is done, Like the room keeps replaying every word from everyone. And I know I'm not perfect, I know I've made mistakes, But why does every mistake feel like more than I can take? I wanted understanding, I wanted somewhere safe, Instead I learned to recognize the footsteps by the way they hit the floor. I don't wanna be bitter, I don't wanna be cold, I don't wanna let the worst days become the person I hold. But sometimes I'm so tired of pretending I'm okay, That I sit there in the silence and just watch the hours fade. [Chorus — softer] Nobody understands, nobody understands, How quiet a heart can get. Nobody understands, nobody understands, How much I haven't said yet. I smile when they look, I disappear when they don't, Everybody thinks they know me… But nobody understands. [FAKE ENDING — beat completely disappears] Piano only. Maybe that's all there is. Maybe some things don't get fixed. Maybe you just learn how to carry them. Pause. … [WHISPER] But wait. One bass hit. [BEAT SLAMS BACK IN] [Verse 3 — RAP FAST] Nah— I ain't finished, I got pages left, Got a thousand things I haven't said yet. You can lock the door, you can turn away, You can tell me that tomorrow's gonna be the same, But I'm still gonna write, I'm still gonna speak, Even if my voice shakes every time that I breathe. I got cracks in the walls and cracks in my trust, Got people that I love that have hurt me enough, But I won't let their anger become my name, I won't let their worst days become my fate. Maybe I'm sad, maybe I'm angry, Maybe I'm tired and maybe that's okay. I don't need a perfect ending, I just need another day. [Final Chorus — starts quiet, grows] Nobody understands… But maybe they could. Maybe if I opened up, Somebody finally would. Nobody understands, But I'm learning to show The parts of me I buried So long ago. [Final line — whispered] Maybe being heard… Is where the story starts.