The Refusal

The Refusal

Lyrics

Verse 1

I will not carry the coin that pays for what was taken I will not carry the name they typed above the line I will not carry the lattice someone hung across my window I will not carry the plate they set and called a meal

Chorus

The refusal is not empty the refusal is not cold it's the shape of what I'm keeping when everything else is sold your refusal is my refusal and my refusal is your song and everyone's refusal is where the light comes in

Verse 2

Behind the grid of someone else's design the body knows what it knows the skin that rebuilt where the old skin was torn the hunger that makes milk from blood the skeleton shifted, the blood that became something stronger than what they removed I will not carry the cheque I will not carry the form

Chorus

The refusal is not empty the refusal is not cold it's the shape of what I'm keeping when everything else is sold your refusal is my refusal and my refusal is your song and everyone's refusal is where the light comes in

Bridge

Thanks to the eyes that saw thanks to the ears that heard thanks to the feet that carried me through the door and past the word thanks to the heart that kept its rhythm when they asked it to stop thanks to the laughter and the tears both - always both

Verse 3

I carry the door I walked through I carry the hand that opened it I carry the road, the cold, the sea-taste I carry the refusal and the refusal carries me

Outro

The plate was set the plate was empty the plate is mine I carry the refusal and the refusal carries me