Song story
Editing yourself is #NO.BUENO
This song is about a person who has spent years editing themselves down to fit someone else's comfort and shame and finally stops, demanding to be loved wholly and witnessed in truth, not hidden. If you can't love all of me, give me space, -- and if you stay, stay for every part of it, all of me. #upsanddowns #beauthenticinlove
Lyrics
HEAR THE COVER BY TECHCOWGIRL ON YOUTUBE AT: >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpDpxP8aDQ4 ============================================= [Intro, E minor guitar motif; close-miked low vocal, dry room] I learned to wear the borrowed coat Buttoned wrong against my throat Every doorway had a rule Every table had a seat I kept trimming off the parts That made the picture incomplete [Verse 1, Em–Cmaj7–G–D; woody guitar, restrained piano] You read my face like folded mail Half afraid of what you’d find I can feel you check the doorway When somebody walks behind But I am tired of small disguises Tired of paying for the view If I hand you every color Will you still choose what is true? [Pre-Chorus, ascending Em–G–C–D; drums entering, doubled vocal] Don’t make me smaller for the room Don’t make me easy to explain I came here carrying my own name I won’t trade it for your shame [Chorus, G–D–Em–C; wide guitars, stacked vocals] Take me as I arrive All the crooked, all the kind Nah, nah, nah — don’t cut me down to size If you want me, want me alive Not the version that behaves Not the shape your people praise Nah, nah, nah — look me straight in the eyes Take me as I arrive [Post-Chorus, suspended guitar chords; gang response] Nah, nah, nah No halfway name Nah, nah, nah No borrowed face [Verse 2, Em–Cmaj7–G–D; piano answers, deeper bass] I have slept beside the question Like a stone beneath the sheet Who decides which side of someone Gets invited in to eat? I can love you without asking You to edit who you are Can you love me past the doorway When the room begins to stare? [Pre-Chorus 2, Em–G–C–D; snare lift, rough vocal double] I won’t bend into a symbol I won’t pose for anyone You can keep me in your daylight Or admit what you’ve begun [Chorus 2, G–D–Em–C; full band, gang vocals] Take me as I arrive All the crooked, all the kind Nah, nah, nah — don’t cut me down to size If you want me, want me alive Not the version that behaves Not the shape your people praise Nah, nah, nah — look me straight in the eyes Take me as I arrive [Breakdown, Em pedal tone; floor tom, piano, near-spoken vocal] Suppose the sky wore two different colors Suppose the sea refused one shore Suppose a bird grew paper antlers Would you love it any more? I am not a courtroom question I am not a debt to pay I am standing here beside you You decide if you will stay [Bridge, C–G–D–Em; stripped first half, gradual full-band return] Call me difficult Call me strange Call me anything But don’t rename What you touch What you know What you fear When I show [Build, Em–C–G–D; toms, overdriven guitar, vocal stack] Nah, nah, nah No halfway name Nah, nah, nah No borrowed face Nah, nah, nah If love has weight Then hold all of me Or give me space [Final Chorus, G–D–Em–C; biggest drums, guitar counterline, stacked gang vocals] Take me as I arrive Every scar and every side Nah, nah, nah — no place left to hide If you want me, want me alive I won’t fold to fit your frame I won’t answer to your shame Nah, nah, nah — look me straight in the eyes Take me as I arrive [Final Hook, C–D–Em; drums stop-start, crowd response] Take me as I arrive Nah, nah, nah Take me as I arrive Nah, nah, nah No halfway name No borrowed face Take me Take me As I arrive [Outro, Em add9; lone guitar, piano tail, close vocal] If you stay Stay for all of it [short guitar solo] Nah, nah, nah [small finish]