Song Journal

The Year of Bruises and Scars

happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you
happy birthday, dear...

(verse 1)
bloody is the knife that you used to cut the cake,
for it slit open my chest,
which was open and ready to be wounded,
the cut as smooth as buttercream.
my eyes were aglow when I saw those candles light up,
but I now know you're no saint,
because I watched the flickering turn to burning,
and saw the flames behind your eyes.

(chorus)
hush now,
don't cry,
life will sing you a lullaby.
"baby cakes,
there, there,
I'll put some flowers in your hair,
and when the bees,
start to sting,
don't you worry for you still have me"

(verse 2)
my face is painted with the blood from your hands,
cascading down the side of my cheek along with the saltwater tears,
so red, rose red, stolen from my father,
when you made him leave the party early.
you're a thief, just like time,
and you stole my soul too,
you walked right in with my invitation,
and left everything grey as ash.

(chorus)
hush now,
don't cry,
life will sing you a lullaby.
"baby cakes,
there, there,
I'll put some flowers in your hair,
and when the bees,
start to sting,
don't you worry for you still have me"

(bridge)
star stickers and glitter trailed down my wish list that I'd had for years,
and the streamers hung silently beside the vibrant balloons just waiting to pop,
knock knock knock on the door,
"you've got a world of fun ahead of you".
I had jumped up and down anticipating the year,
and my presents seemed to hold so much joy behind the wrapping paper,
but all the guests left, and the last one wound up dead,
so the thank you cards will remain blank.

(chorus)
hush now,
don't cry,
life will sing you a lullaby.
"baby cakes,
there, there,
I'll put some flowers in your hair,
and when the bees,
start to sting,
don't you worry for you still have me"