Fake Smiles 2
Phora Lyrics

And, oh
The singer starts off the song with a melancholic tone, possibly referring to a previous relationship.

You said
The singer is addressing the person who said something to them, which has made them want to reach out.

Hey, come back
The singer is calling out to someone they have lost contact with and want to reconnect with.

To my arms
The artist wants this person to come back to be with them physically, to comfort them.

Yeah (this hurts)
The artist acknowledges that their current situation is painful and challenging.

Yeah, fuck (I know)
The singer is frustrated and irritated with the situation, and knows that this is not what they want.

I can't take this shit no more
The singer is at the end of their rope with their current situation and cannot handle it any longer.

Just know you got this, this life is short
The artist offers encouragement, imploring the listener to take control and asserting that life is short and should be lived to the fullest.

Yeah, look
The artist pauses before moving onto the main body of the song, setting the tone and rhythm for what's to come.

They say nothin' lasts forever, love always fades away
The artist is addressing a common belief that nothing in life is permanent, including love, which often fades away over time.

I try to hide the pain, so I guess I'm the one to blame
The singer acknowledges that they have been hiding their pain, possibly from others or even themselves, and takes responsibility for their situation.

I'm in the dark fallin', drownin', callin' your name
The artist feels lost and alone, and reaches out for someone they have lost contact with.

I still hear your voice, I still see your face
The singer is still haunted by memories of this person and can't seem to let go.

But I held on to you, but you were killin' me slow
The singer realizes that holding onto this person was detrimental to their well-being, as they were slowly being poisoned by the relationship.

Two things, love and compassion, things that we'd never show
The singer reflects on how their previous relationship lacked both love and compassion, and no one was willing to show or give them to the other person.

We all just run from the truth and all the things that we know
The artist laments how difficult it is for people to face uncomfortable truths and instead find ways to avoid them, even at the cost of their own happiness.

And still I'm lookin' for you, but I just hope that you grow, fuck
The artist is caught in a cycle of searching for this person but recognizes that this is not necessarily wise or healthy. However, they still hold out hope that this person can change for the better.

I'm not as okay as I pretend to be
The singer admits that they are not as fine as they might appear on the surface, and that something is deeply troubling them.

Runnin' from the past and I can't see what lies ahead of me
The singer is running from their past and uncertain about what the future holds, feeling lost and directionless.

I gave up on everyone, I gave up on everythin'
The artist has given up and lost faith in everyone and everything around them, including themselves.

I know there's a heaven, I just don't think it was meant for me
The artist believes in the concept of heaven but does not feel worthy or deserving of it.

If you knew me you would judge me for all these mistakes
The artist feels ashamed of their past mistakes and worried that others will judge and reject them for them.

So like the rest of us, I carry this smile on my face
The singer puts on a facade of happiness and often smiles despite their inner pain, which is a common coping mechanism for many people.

And act like everything's okay as I try not to break
The artist is trying to hold it together and keep up the appearance of being okay, despite the internal turmoil they are experiencing.

My smile is like the love you gave all along, it was fake
The singer realizes that the love they received from this person was not genuine or real, but a facade, much like the smile they often put on to hide their pain.

Been so neglected, I don't even know my worth no more
The singer has felt ignored and overlooked for so long that they no longer know their own worth or value.

Sinners like us don't find forgiveness in the church no more
The singer knows that they are flawed and imperfect, as we all are, but doesn't believe that they can find forgiveness and redemption in traditional places like the church.

Meds, they don't work no more, my head doesn't work no more
The artist is struggling with mental health issues and feeling like nothing they do is helping or making a difference.

Sometimes I'd rather die, 'cause dead, wouldn't hurt no more
The artist is in so much pain that they question whether life is worth living, and believe that dying would be a relief from their suffering.

But some nights I wanna call you and swallow my pride
The singer still has strong feelings for this person and sometimes feels the urge to reach out to them, even if it means swallowing their pride.

'Cause some nights I just feel empty and hollow inside
The singer is often consumed with feelings of emptiness and hollowness, and longs for something (or someone) to fill that void.

Why do we hold on to the people that promise us lies?
The artist poses a rhetorical question about why we often cling to false promises and illusions rather than facing the truth.

Why do we kill ourselves to live, if all of us die?
The artist ponders the futility of life and how we work so hard to survive and thrive, even though we will all inevitably die in the end.

I'm slowly breakin' down, it's hard to fake my smile
The artist is gradually falling apart and finding it more difficult to hide their pain behind a fake smile.

I learned the things that help us breathe can also make us drown
The singer reflects on how the things that sustain us can also be the things that destroy us, using the metaphor of drowning.

I just can't take it now
The artist has reached a breaking point and can no longer handle the pain and struggle they are facing.

My demons talk to me, these angels never make a sound
The singer is tormented by their inner demons and fears, but doesn't hear or feel the presence of any angels or divine forces that could help deliver them from their suffering.

Sometimes I look inside the mirror and stare at myself
The singer engages in self-reflection and introspection, often looking at themselves in the mirror to try to understand or find clarity.

Hate who I am, I have this problem comparin' myself
The singer struggles with self-loathing and tends to compare themselves unfavorably to others, which contributes to their negative self-image.

Sometimes we love someone who turns into somebody else
The artist reflects on how people can change over time, and lament the pain that can come from loving someone who has become a different person.

I got so lost in you, forgot how to care for myself
The artist became so wrapped up in this person that they neglected their own needs and wellbeing, leading to further pain and suffering.

We fight addictions, we hate each other, we're all the same
The singer observes how people struggle with various addictions and often treat each other poorly, despite the fact that we all share similar struggles and hardships.

We dig for love, bury the past and end up in the grave, yeah
The singer laments the human tendency to search for love and connection, but often bury painful or difficult memories, which can lead to further suffering and an early demise.

But who's to blame? I guess we all change
The artist acknowledges that change is an inevitable part of life, and that no one person or group is solely responsible for the struggles and conflicts we face.

We hurt the ones we love because of our pain, fuck
The artist recognizes that their pain can often cause them to hurt those closest to them, despite their love and affection for them, and vent their frustration with a profanity.

And, oh
The song ends with a return to the opening line, reinforcing the cyclical nature of the artist's pain and struggles, with no clear resolution in sight.

I said
The repetition of the opening line signals the end of the song and bookends the lyrics, creating a sense of closure and completeness.

Come back
The artist repeats this phrase to emphasize their longing for the person they have lost and their desire for them to return to their life.

To my arms
The singer reiterates their desire for physical comfort and intimacy with this person, which is something they seem to be lacking in their life.

This hurts, I know, oh
The singer is painfully aware of the challenges they are facing and acknowledges the pain and discomfort it brings.

But I got this, I'm on my own
The singer asserts their resilience and independence, indicating that they will try to cope and survive on their own, even though they are hurting.