Midnight Mercy

**“This Cage of Rage”** **[Verse 1 — soft, almost whispered]** I don't feel like myself lately When the noise in my head spills over And I find myself in a rage I keep trying to learn how to handle Something I've never dealt with before Something I just want to go away **[Pre-Chorus]** But I feel stuck in this cage Yeah, I'm stuck in this cage This cage of rage **[Chorus — gentle and emotional]** And if I had a mirror to see me I know I'd crumble to my knees 'Cause it's like this switch flips so fast And suddenly, I don't recognize me But somewhere underneath all this pain I know there's still a part of me Holding on and whispering softly... *You'll be yourself again someday* **[Verse 2 — slow and vulnerable]** I don't know why it comes so quickly Or why I can't always make it stop One moment I'm standing here quietly The next, I'm losing everything I've got And when the silence finally finds me I wish I could just turn back time Hold the pieces of my heart together And leave this version of me behind **[Pre-Chorus]** 'Cause I feel stuck in this cage Yeah, I'm stuck in this cage This cage of rage **[Chorus — slightly fuller]** And if I had a mirror to see me I know I'd crumble to my knees 'Cause it's like this switch flips so fast And suddenly, I don't recognize me But somewhere underneath all this pain I know there's still a part of me Holding on and whispering softly... *You'll be yourself again someday* **[Bridge — lullaby-like, very quiet]** So tonight I'll close my eyes And let the tears fall if they need to I'll hold the girl I used to be And tell her I haven't left you You're still somewhere underneath The noise, the anger, and the fear And maybe healing doesn't happen overnight... But maybe you'll find your way back here **[Final Chorus — very soft]** If I had a mirror to see me Maybe I'd fall down to my knees But I'd tell that girl staring back at me... *You're still you, you're still here* This cage won't hold you forever Even if tonight it feels that way And I can't wait to feel like myself again... But maybe I'll find her A little more With every day... **[Outro — whispered]** I don't feel like myself lately... But I know she's still in me Somewhere underneath this cage... Waiting to be free...