LYRICS!

Dead End

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. I wrote Dead End to sell it. during my freshman year of high school, I was approached by a group who wanted me to write them an "upbeat song about the pressures of being perfect." sort of a tall order, considering all the many songs I'd written about similar topics were slow and sad and angsty. however, I took this challenge and wrote this song in one sitting. I think it took 20 minutes. not bad for 15-year-old me.

well, as you can guess, Dead End was not the song that group was looking for. they said they liked it, but it was still "too sad." I just think they couldn't spit the first rap-like verses I'd ever written as well as I could and weren't up for the challenge of trying and failing—at least, that's what 15-year-old me with a hurt pride thought. but anyway, when I sang Dead End to my voice coach for the first time, she was like, "I don't want you to sell this one though. this is YOUR song."

so I give you, Dead End.

DEAD END

VERSE 1:
How quick am I going I'm about to go faster
Pushed down the hill and they pumped the gas
They forced it down my throat / where I'm bound to go
Who I am and what I know
The person in the mirror tell me where they've been
A big black "perfect" across their forehead
Tired, vacant eyes and everybody smiles / trophies in the background
That's all I am / that's where I stand

CHORUS:
So fix me again and tell me I'm not / all that you bargained for but you've got
I'm too many things to comprehend
Strings at the fray try to tie down the mess / but I'll break if you say this ain't my best
I'm trying, I'm screaming but I can't
And if we don't brake now then we're gonna hit the
dead end

VERSE 2:
Chin up, shoulders back, keep your eye on the prize
Make sure I'm not flawed in the public eye
'Cause god forbid I trip / and my cover slips
And they realize I'm just a kid
With dreams, and hopes, but a closed door 'cause everybody knows
You've got to be perfect, best in the state
But they don't know they're just running in place

(CHORUS)

BRIDGE:
What if we slowed down / and realized that everything I'm doing's just too hard
What if we noticed / that I wanna do other things, and I don't gotta be the best for me 'cause
I'm just a kid / running in place towards a dead end, towards a dead end

(CHORUS)