[Acoustic, folk-punk style. Starts with a simple, insistent guitar strum.]
[Verse 1]
Another morning, another fluorescent hum
In the elevator, the ritual has begun
A forced smile plastered, a flicker in their eyes
They're all just waiting for the predictable replies
And the silence stretches, a monster in the air
So they clear their throats and they offer up their prayer:
[Chorus]
"Hey, how are you?"
The tyranny of two
A conversation starter, and an empty, hollow glue
Don't wanna know the truth
Don't wanna hear the blues
Just say you're fine and move along and play by all the rules.
"Yeah, I'm good, you?"
It's the only thing to do.
[Verse 2]
Your soul is heavy, your heart is in a knot
You're tangled up in all the fights that you have fought
But they don't want the details, they don't want a glimpse
Of the ugly, honest moments and the existential crimps
So you swallow down the truth until it burns your throat
And you spit out pleasantries from the same old tired note.
[Chorus]
"Hey, how are you?"
The tyranny of two
A conversation starter, and an empty, hollow glue
Don't wanna know the truth
Don't wanna hear the blues
Just say you're fine and move along and play by all the rules.
"Yeah, I'm good, you?"
It's the only thing to do.
[Bridge]
What if I told them that the dog is getting old?
And every single sunrise feels a little more cold?
What if I said the work is soul-crushing and slow?
That I'm trying to find a feeling, but I don't know where to go?
They'd pull back quickly, they'd flinch a nervous glance
And start looking for an exit from this unscripted dance.
Because real connections, they take too long to build
And the well of superficiality is easily filled.
[Guitar solo - Fast and chaotic, like a panicked escape]
[Chorus]
"Hey, how are you?"
The tyranny of two
A conversation starter, and an empty, hollow glue
Don't wanna know the truth
Don't wanna hear the blues
Just say you're fine and move along and play by all the rules.
"Yeah, I'm good, you?"
It's the only thing to do.
[Outro]
So if you see me walking, with my head down, lookin' glum
Just skip the conversation, and save us both from some
Pretending.
Just let it be.
[Strums a dissonant, final chord and lets it ring out.]