The Table

Lyrics

Verse 1 — I Deserve a Seat I did every fucking thing they told me to Worked twice as hard, kept my damn head down too Learned when to shut up, learned when to wait Learned to eat shit while they shifted the weight I balanced the ledger, I did the grunt work Bled myself dry just to prove my own worth Thought if I poured enough blood in the glass Someday they’d hand me a motherfucking pass Pre-Chorus So I waited Patient and polite Handing my compass To some arrogant prick’s north and night Chorus 1 I deserve a seat at the fucking table I’ve earned my place in this room I’ve carried the dead weight I’ve paid every damn due So look at the shit I’ve done Look at what I can be I deserve a seat at the table Won't one of you make room for me? Verse 2 — Wait a Minute Then somewhere between the proving and pleasing I choked on the bullshit that I was breathing Another gold star, another green light Another fake suit whispering "almost right" Who poured the mortar? Who drew the floor? Who said this threshold was a locked fucking door? Why am I shivering outside the glass Begging these ghosts for a pass to pass? Pre-Chorus And it hit me Like a match to a gasoline line: Why the hell am I renting A shadow that’s already mine? Chorus 2 Why the fuck am I standing and waiting For you to slide me a seat? Why am I asking for your permission To stand on my own two feet? I know the hell I bring I know what the fuck I know If you won't make room I'll cave in the floor below Why am I wasting my weather On skies you control? Bridge — The Turn I don’t need your fucking invitation I don’t need your weak validation Being welcomed isn’t real freedom If I have to break ribs to fit your damn podium I can love without surrender I can listen and still disagree I can kick in every door I want Without handing you the key I spent half my life thinking power Was a crown that some bastard bestowed Turns out the only architecture Is the blood on the road I strode Final Chorus — Break the Table Actually, fuck it. Break the table Burn the empty chair Stop shrinking down to fit a room That never planned to put me there Keep your seat Keep your bullshit rules Keep deciding who gets through I’m done begging to belong To a system I can build better than you I’ll build my own damn empire Hell, maybe I don’t need one at all Maybe power isn’t getting invited Maybe power is ignoring the fucking call I’ve got a voice, and I’m gonna use it I’ve got a choice, and I’m gonna choose it I’m not waiting I’m not asking I’m not standing at your goddamn door I thought I wanted a seat at the table Now? Fucking watch the floor. Outro First I said, I deserve a seat. Then I asked, Why the fuck am I waiting for you to hand me one? Now? Burn the wood. I’ve got somewhere else to stand.