Masks & Leverage

Title: Masks & Leverage Artist: Black Thread Union [Intro] [Verse 1] I learned which face unlocked the room And which one got strip-searched at the door Kept the actual self in cold storage Like evidence they came here looking for Smile cut clean, palms held open Vocal register warm enough to pass Every single nod had a hook inside it Every kindness wore a blast mask [Pre-Chorus] Fix the price Hold the grin Trade the currency To buy back in [Chorus] Masks and leverage A face built for the threat I paid out in pieces That you haven’t counted yet Masks and leverage Smile with the switchblade out Say whatever opens up the door Then engineer another way out [Verse 2] I made a currency out of posture Made a physical shelter out of tone Found the angle of the light Where the damage passed inspection There were kickbacks wired into the wallpaper There were unwritten debts shifting under the floor Every handshake left a trace of grease Every emergency exit asked for more [Pre-Chorus] Fix the price Hold the grin Trade the currency To buy back in [Chorus] Masks and leverage A face built for the threat I paid out in pieces That you haven’t counted yet Masks and leverage Smile with the switchblade out Say whatever opens up the door Then engineer another way out [Bridge] This is not lying This is supply chain This is not hiding This is campaign This is not healing This is a cold trade I wore the puncture Till the puncture got paid [Build] Till the puncture got paid Till the puncture got paid Till the puncture got paid [Breakdown] You want the real thing? Bring a receipt You want the soft part? Get in line with the teeth [Final Chorus] Masks and leverage A face built for the threat I paid out in pieces That you haven’t counted yet Masks and leverage Smile with the switchblade out Say whatever opens up the door Then engineer another way out Masks and leverage Terms written in the blood I finally learned what I was worth When the room wanted some [Outro] Fix the price Hold the grin Trade the currency To buy back in Fix the price Hold the grin Trade the—