Pulling Teeth
The Cardboard Crowns Lyrics

There's one thousand things they'll teach you
They will try to teach you many things, but really they are sucking the life out of you.

Just before they turn to leech you of your soul
They will take all of your time and energy, leaving you feeling empty and drained.

And all your time
Your time will be taken away from you, leaving you with nothing.

And they'll be "so pleased to meet you"
They will show fake delight upon meeting you, but really they are just trying to use you for their own benefit.

And to know if they can treat you to a meal,
They will invite you out to eat, but it's just another way for them to take advantage of you.

They'll pour the wine.
They'll try to impress you with alcohol, but really it's just another trick to make you let your guard down.

Then they'll tell you that you want it,
They will manipulate you into thinking you want what they have to offer.

And they'll show you how to flaunt it
They will teach you how to show off what they've given you, so that it benefits them.

At the same time as you climb
While you are climbing your way to success, they will make sure to take credit for your achievements.

When you're so wowed by all the glamour
They will try to distract you with shiny things so that you don't realize what they're doing to you.

You can't even feel the hammer
You won't even realize until it's too late that they are hurting you.

As it shatters through your spine.
Their actions will cause you to feel deep pain and suffering.

But I didn't get the words they said
The true meaning of their words was lost on me.

And I never learned to write between the lines
I never learned how to read between the lines or to recognize their hidden agenda.

Before you read.
Before they get the chance to take advantage of you.

And they tell you you're alone.
They will make you feel isolated and alone, so that you become more dependent on them.

Now you're drowning in politeness
You are being overly polite and people-pleasing, to your own detriment.

But you start the sense the tightness
You begin to feel the negative effects of their manipulation.

of the rope you walk or hang.
Their actions are like a rope around your neck, and you could be hurt or killed by them.

They've got eight fingers in your pies
They have their hands in all of your affairs, controlling everything that you do.

And the last two in your eyes
They are also controlling what you see and how you perceive the world.

To hide the glistening of their fangs.
They are hiding their true nature and intentions from you, which are dangerous and harmful.

But we could hear the words not said,
We can pick up on their deception and lies.

Slip between their grinning teeth
They will smile and act friendly, but really they are hiding something malicious.

To make their way inside your head
They will manipulate your thoughts and beliefs so that you believe what they want you to believe.

Then they tell you you're so close.
They will falsely give you hope that you are close to achieving your goals or dreams, to keep you under their control.

Yes, there's ten thousand things they'll teach you
There are countless ways that they will try to manipulate and control you.

To facilitate the breach into your head
They will use various tactics to infiltrate your mind and thoughts.

Your heart, your mind.
They will stop at nothing to gain access to your emotions and thoughts.

And if you dare not meet projections
If you don't do what they want you to do or act how they think you should act, they will punish you.

You find - despite your best objections -
Even if you try to resist them, they will still try to control you.

They will cast you from their side.
They will cut you off and discard you if you don't play by their rules.

And they tell you you're alone.
They will make you feel lonely and isolated so that you are more likely to come back to them.