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A recorded reading of “Every Version”. If the player does not load, use the original audio source.
Same scene, different ending. Same fight, different lines… You know I hate waiting— why’d you leave me counting cracks in the pavement, coffee ring gone cold? You brought your logic back like a walking diagnostic, telling me how to be bold. Yeah, I’m not stable— room’s its own weather, drink at the table like it’s sport I can’t quit. I lose whole afternoons, miss birthdays, drop lines and tunes— still, I show up, bit by bit. You loved me raw, now you want me edited. Make that make sense. I’m a mood board you curated, and when those colours clash, suddenly I’m hated. I’m too careless, then I care too much; you say, “Grow up,” then you miss my touch. I’m grounded until I say what I mean— then I’m “crazy.” What’s that even mean to you? I’m too chill till I turn to a storm; you hate my volume, yawn when I conform. I can play a thousand roles in your head— whatever mask I wear, you want it shed. You hate every version. You hate every version. You hate, you hate… “Enigmatic” on Monday, by Friday I’m “dramatic,” “too erratic.” Which one’s true? I wear what I like, you call it costume—say I’m dressed like I’m trying to haunt you. Maybe I do. You asked for honesty, I gave you hard truth, unpolished, costly, now I’m “too intense.” What did you expect when you pulled me apart then taped me back with your regret? You loved my spark, now you curse the fire. You want a candle, not a live wire. But you lit this fuse— don’t act tired. I’m too messy, then I’m too damn neat; you say “relax,” then I’m “way too sweet.” I’m “deep” until I say something real— then I’m “too much.” How am I meant to feel? I’m too sharp, then I’m suddenly dull; you hate my mind but you crave my pull. I could spin in circles to match your script— none of these versions ever stick. You want silence with sparkle. A storm in a bottle. A girl who won’t shout but still hits full throttle. You want the mess but only when it’s clean. You love the chaos— just not when it’s seen. I can’t be your mirror if the glass is cracked. I’m not your fix when your map goes dark. You loved the story, not the author. You loved the fall—never the daughter. I’m too reckless, then I’m tame on cue; I’m “so unique”—till you want me new. I’m kind until I ask for space— then I’m “selfish.” Get that look off your face. I’m too funny, then I’m not enough; my lows offend, my highs are “too much.” I could bend and break to fit your frame— I’m done shrinking to play that game. You hate every version. You hate every version. This one’s staying.
Alternative version
Same scene, different ending Same fight, different lines… You know I hate waiting So why’d you leave me pacing up and down the pavement With my coffee gone cold? And yeah, I heard your logic But you always come back like a walking diagnostic Telling me how to be bold I get it, I’m not stable My room’s a wreck and I drink at the table Like it’s some kind of sport I lose track of time Forget birthdays, drop dimes But at least I show up in some form You said you liked me raw But now you want me edited Tell me how that works— I’m a mood board you curated But the colours clash And now you hate it 'Cause I’m too careless, and then I care too much You said, “Grow the hell up,” then you miss my touch And I’m too grounded 'til I speak what I believe (Then suddenly I’m crazy—what’s that even mean?) And I’m a storm when I’m loud, a ghost when I’m still You sigh when I fold, but you flinch when I feel I could play a thousand roles inside your head But whichever mask I wear, you still wish I was dead You hate every version You hate every version You hate, you hate You hate, you hate… You once said I’m “enigmatic” Now I’m “too dramatic” and “a little too erratic” Which one’s real? I wear what I want Then you say it’s a costume Claim I “dress like I’m trying to haunt you” Well, maybe I do You told me, “Be honest” So I gave you my thoughts, raw and lawless Now I’m “too intense” But what did you expect When you pulled me apart Just to tape me back up with your regret? You said you loved my spark Now you curse the fire You want a candle, Not a live wire But you lit this fuse So don’t act tired 'Cause I’m too messy, and then I’m too damn neat You say “just relax,” then complain I’m too sweet And I’m too “deep” until I say something true (Then I’m “too much”—what do you want me to do?) And I’m all sharp edges, then I’m suddenly dull You hate my spark but you crave my pull I could spin in circles just to match your script But none of these versions ever seem to stick You want silence with sparkle A storm in a bottle A girl who won’t shout But still hits full throttle You want the mess But only when it’s clean You love the chaos Just not when it’s seen I can’t be your mirror if I’m shattered Can’t be your fix if I’m scattered… You liked the story—not the author You liked the fall, not the daughter 'Cause I’m too reckless, and then I’m too damn tame You say I’m “unique,” then you ask why I can’t change And I’m too kind until I need some space (Then I’m “selfish”—get that look off your face) And I’m the joke, then I’m the punchline missed You crave my highs, then you clench your fists I could bend and break just to fit your frame But I’m done shrinking to play your game You hate every version You hate every version But this one’s staying… This one’s staying… This one’s staying… Even if no one claps when she does.
Lyrics
(Same scene, different ending) (Same fight, different lines…) You know I hate waiting So why’d you leave me pacing up and down the pavement With my coffee gone cold? And yeah, I heard your logic But you always come back like a walking diagnostic Telling me how to be bold I get it, I’m not stable My room’s a wreck and I drink at the table Like it’s some kind of sport I lose track of time Forget birthdays, drop dimes But at least I show up in some form You said you liked me raw But now you want me edited Tell me how that works— I’m a mood board you curated But the colours clash And now you hate it 'Cause I’m too careless, and then I care too much You said, “Grow the hell up,” then you miss my touch And I’m too grounded till I say what I believe (Then suddenly I’m crazy—what’s that even mean?) And I’m too chill, then I’m “such a damn storm” You hate when I’m loud but you yawn when I conform I could play a thousand roles inside your head But whichever mask I wear, you still wish I was dead You hate every version You hate every version (You hate, you hate) (You hate, you hate…) You once said I’m “enigmatic” Now I’m “too dramatic” and “a little too erratic” Which one’s real? I wear what I want Then you say it’s a costume Claim I “dress like I’m trying to haunt you” Well, maybe I do You told me, “Be honest” So I gave you my thoughts, raw and lawless Now I’m “too intense” But what did you expect When you pulled me apart Just to tape me back up with your regret? You said you loved my spark Now you curse the fire You want a candle, Not a live wire But you lit this fuse So don’t act tired 'Cause I’m too messy, and then I’m too damn neat You say “just relax,” then complain I’m too sweet And I’m too “deep” until I say something real (Then I’m “too much”—how am I supposed to feel?) And I’m too sharp, then I’m suddenly dull You hate my mind but you crave my pull I could spin in circles just to match your script But none of these versions ever seem to stick You want silence with sparkle A storm in a bottle A girl who won’t shout But still hits full throttle You want the mess But only when it’s clean You love the chaos Just not when it’s seen (I can’t be your mirror if I’m shattered) (Can’t be your fix if I’m scattered…) (You liked the story—not the author) (You liked the fall, not the daughter) 'Cause I’m too reckless, and then I’m too damn tame You say I’m “unique,” then you ask why I can’t change And I’m too kind until I need some space (Then I’m “selfish”—get that look off your face) And I’m too funny, then I’m not enough You hate my lows, but my highs feel “too much” I could bend and break just to fit your frame But I’m done shrinking to play your game You hate every version You hate every version (But this one’s staying…) (This one’s staying…) (This one’s staying…)
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