Chemical Smile

[Verse 1] Cool in the doorway, clean in the face You could wear charm like a second skin Lean just enough, let the room fill in And let them mistake the shine for presence I got the laugh in the right place The well-timed nod, the polished gaze A little glow where the nerves go dead A little mask where the self should be [Pre-Chorus] No one sees What isn’t there If the mouth still moves And the eyes stay bright enough [Chorus] Chemical smile That’s what gets me through the door Chemical smile Like I’ve never been hollow before Chemical smile White flash, no heat inside Just enough charm To keep the dead air alive [Verse 2] I can hold a conversation like a glass of ice Cool in the hand, gone if you press too hard Can say your name like I almost mean it Can make the room believe I’m in it There’s a way the body learns To keep the face while the soul goes dim Still cashing checks with the same white teeth The rest of me too far gone to sign [Pre-Chorus] And nobody asks If the pulse is real When the smile stays clean And the damage keeps its shape [Chorus] Chemical smile That’s what gets me through the door Chemical smile Like I’ve never been hollow before Chemical smile White flash, no heat inside Just enough charm To keep the dead air alive [Bridge] Don’t ask me How long I’ve been gone Don’t ask me Why the mirror still fogs This is how the trick survives A little mouth, a little light A little mask that still passes For a life [Final Chorus ] Chemical smile That’s what kept the room from seeing Chemical smile That’s what kept the body moving Chemical smile White teeth, black space behind Just enough shine To keep the night from asking why [Outro] White teeth Low light Still here Still not