I have to be (nothing)

Intro

Another morning. Another road. Engine running. Carry the load.

Name on the door. Hands on the wheel. Know where you're going. Know what you feel. Keep it together. Finish the fight. Find the right answer. Make it all right. Love like you mean it. Know when to leave. Know what you want. Know what to be.

Pre-Chorus

All my life a voice behind me: Go. Become. Decide.

Chorus

I HAVE TO BE- I HAVE TO BE- Something worth the fire in me. I HAVE TO KNOW- I HAVE TO GO- Somewhere only I can see. Keep the engine running. Keep the blood alive. One more road. One more morning. One more reason to survive.

Verse

But tonight the road is empty. No voice coming through. No destination on the dashboard. Nothing I am supposed to do.

There is weather on the horizon. There is thunder in my bones. There is sunlight on the metal. And the engine runs alone.

Chorus

I HAVE TO BE- I HAVE TO BE- Something worth the fire in me. I HAVE TO KNOW- I HAVE TO GO- Somewhere only I can see. Keep the engine running. Keep the blood alive.

One more road. One more morning- Why? Why?

Breakdown - INSTANT SILENCE

Who said the morning needs a reason? Who told the blood where it must run? Who tells the earth to keep on turning? Who tells the sun to be the sun?

Verse

I have to be- Nothing. Not a warrior. Not a wanderer. Not the man who knows the way. Not tomorrow. Not forever. Not an answer for today. Nothing taken. Nothing broken. Nothing loved becomes untrue. I don't need another life to make this one come through.

Pre-Chorus

No command. No destination. No voice behind my eyes. And still- the heart. And still- the morning. And still- the fucking sun will rise.

Final Chorus

I HAVE TO BE- NOTHING! Nothing standing between this world and me! I HAVE TO KNOW- NOTHING! Nothing telling my heart what it should need! LET THE ENGINE RUN! LET THE MORNING COME! LET THE BLOOD MOVE WITHOUT ASKING WHY!

I DON'T HAVE TO BECOME THE SUN- I DON'T HAVE TO REACH THE LIGHT- There is fire underneath my skin that never asked me what to be.

Verse

Maybe someone walks beside me. Maybe no one ever will. Let the empty seat stay empty. Let the world keep turning still.

I have loved. I still love. Nothing here needs rewriting. Nothing waiting. Nothing missing. Nothing dying. Nothing arriving.

And beneath the iron thunder- beneath everything I've been- there is warmth I never ordered. There is light beneath my skin.

Final Refrain

I have to be- Nothing. I have to be- Nothing. No command inside the light. No tomorrow I owe tonight. I have to be- Nothing. So I can finally- be.

Outro

The sun never asks permission. Neither will I.