Gilded Cage

[Intro] (Steel guitar fades in, slow drum brush) [Verse 1] Every mornin', after work he compliments The cashier from the gas station Tips his hat, that charming grin The perfect smooth talking gentleman But the screen door slams, the lock clicks tight The sunshine fades to cold moonlight That gentle hand becomes a fist Another bruise the world won't miss [Chorus] Oh, he treats the world like solid gold While my heart's grown weary, bruised, and cold He shines for them, so bright and bold While my whole story's left untold This pain's too much, a bitter pill My breaking heart just can't stand still Please, just end it all, this twisted game Lord, make it stop, this endless shame [Verse 2] He tells her jokes, makes her smile While I pick up heavy boxes for awhile From where they're left in their sight Last Tuesday, deep into the night He whispers secrets, soft and low To pretty faces that don't know The monster lurking just beneath The kindness shown, the hidden teeth [Chorus] Oh, he treats the world like solid gold While my heart's grown weary, bruised, and cold He shines for them, so bright and bold While my whole story's left untold This pain's too much, a bitter pill My breaking heart just can't stand still Please, just end it all, this twisted game Lord, make it stop, this endless shame [Bridge] This gilded cage, it holds me fast A porcelain smile, built to last While cracks run deep beneath the skin Where hope's been beaten thin and thin The laughter outside, it cuts like knives Reminding me of stolen lives The life I dreamed, the love I gave Now buried in an early grave [Chorus] Oh, he treats the world like solid gold While my heart's grown weary, bruised, and cold He shines for them, so bright and bold While my whole story's left untold This pain's too much, a bitter pill My breaking heart just can't stand still Please, just end it all, this twisted game Lord, make it stop, this endless shame [Outro] (Steel guitar wails mournfully, drum brush slows, fade out on a single, unresolved piano chord) Lord... make it stop...