Suit of Armor Heart

[Verse 1]
You walk in like a question
I walk in like a joke
Hide the shake in my right hand
Behind some practiced smoke
All these clever little comebacks
All these lines I’ve learned by heart
But your quiet eyes go right through
Every polished
Shining part
[Pre-Chorus]
I’ve been the hero in my mirror
I’ve been the villain in my head
You touch my shoulder
Say my name
And suddenly I’m just a man instead
[Chorus]
I’ve got a suit of armor heart
Built out of iron and broken parts
Painted it gold so no one sees the scars
But you keep knocking on that door
Like you’ve been here a thousand times before
And I’m scared to death
You’ll love what’s underneath the shards
This suit of armor heart
[Verse 2]
You laugh at my deflection
Like you’ve read the script before
Call my bluff on every story
Stacked like bottles on the floor
You don’t ask me for perfection
You just ask me to be real
That’s a stunt I’ve never practiced
That’s a fight I’d have to feel
[Pre-Chorus]
I can improvise a legend
I can sell you any lie
But when you say you’re not leaving
Something honest burns behind my eyes (yeah)
[Chorus]
I’ve got a suit of armor heart
Built out of iron and broken parts
Painted it gold so no one sees the scars
But you keep knocking on that door
Like you’ve been here a thousand times before
And I’m scared to death
You’ll love what’s underneath the shards
This suit of armor heart
[Bridge]
What if I drop the act
What if the mask won’t stay intact
Will you stay if I fall apart right here
Right here
Right now
I’ve outrun every past mistake
Turned my damage into face paint
But your hand in mine
Makes all the noise fade out (fade out)
[Chorus]
Still got a suit of armor heart
Built out of iron and broken parts
But it’s cracking open every time you’re near
So come and write your name inside
On the steel I never meant to hide
If you’re brave enough
I’ll let you disassemble every guard
Around this suit of armor heart
[Outro]
You walk in like an answer
To a question I won’t dodge
If you’re staying for the credits
I’ll step out from the façade
Take a bow in all my damage
Hear you whisper in the dark
“I don’t need your perfect metal
I just want your beating heart”

rock, Arena-sized power ballad with classic rock DNA; male vocals with raspy vulnerability that grow into a soaring, theatrical belt. Start with intimate piano and subtle strings, then bring in wide, crunchy guitars and live drums at the first chorus. Second chorus and bridge explode with stacked gang harmonies and a ripping lead guitar line that ducks under the vocal. Big, cinematic outro that hangs on the last note and lets the guitars ring., ballad