Practice Room Heartbeat

[Verse 1]

Fluorescent ceiling buzzing low

Number on my chest

Hands cold

I bow

I breathe

I miss one note

They smile

They thank me

"you may go"

Long hallway

Shoes on tile

Delete my name from the waiting file

But in the train glass

Through red eyes

I mouth the line I got wrong

One more time

[Pre-Chorus]

Every "sorry" sticks like tape on my skin

Pull it off

It leaves a mark

I still sing

I keep hearing that door click in my head

But I’m not done yet

[Chorus]

I fall on this stage a thousand times

But I get up

I get up

I get up

Still shining

Even if the crowd is only my echo crying

I’ll sing it again

This practice room heartbeat

It keeps on trying

Even when they say "not you" I’m fighting

I’ll turn every "no" into a someday lightning

I won’t end here

I won’t end here

[Verse 2]

Cracked mirror in the corner stall

Post-it pep talks peeling off the wall

My throat is raw

My feet are sore

Still tracing steps across this floor

Friends say "maybe choose a safer dream"

Smile like they’re careful with the seam

But they don’t see the 3 a.m. me

Whispering harmonies to the ceiling

[Pre-Chorus]

Every comment

Every cut

Every list I miss

Burns a little

Stings a little

Still I wish

If faith is just standing when it hurts

Watch me stand first

[Chorus]

I fall on this stage a thousand times

But I get up

I get up

I get up

Still shining

Even if the crowd is only my echo crying

I’ll sing it again

This practice room heartbeat

It keeps on trying

Even when they say "not you" I’m fighting

I’ll turn every "no" into a someday lightning

I won’t end here

I won’t end here

[Bridge]

One day that door will open wide (oh-oh)

They’ll say my name right this time

But even if it takes my whole life

I’d rather break than never try

[Chorus]

I fall on this stage a thousand times

But I get up

I get up

I get up

Still shining (still shining)

Even if the crowd is only my echo crying

I’ll sing it again

This practice room heartbeat

It keeps on trying

Even when they say "not you" I’m fighting

I’ll turn every "no" into a someday lightning

I won’t end here

I won’t end here (no, I won’t)

I won’t end here