Aftertaste - Miss America Smile

played enough games of chance
first your jaw drops and then you shit your pants
holding on to the ceiling when your tomorrows became your yesterdays
your abdomen is a little swollen, a belt of bruises proudly you display
don`t walk away like everything`s fine now
you`ll finally find out just how your crown outshined your reign
we hope you see this through (it`s true)
will time be on your side?
when we know it`s alright
what you don`t know won`t hurt you this time
all the while your smile it shines so bright
activated (fascinated, captivated) by the faded light
another day, another riddle
tip-toe the middle of what you think and what you know
lungs worn away, a dull ache, a sad heart
old scars and track marks of courage overthrown
don`t try to say it isn`t tragic
when your life of pageantry is reduced to dead bouquets
I know that you`ve had enough
obeyed when they betrayed your trust
you never thought that this would last
but you can`t burn those photographs
that have been etched into your mind
you see the slide show all the time
and I know I told you so
I told you so, you know