[Verse 1]
Black and white keys beneath my hands
Years of practice, still not good enough to stand
Marcus Thompson's words cut like a blade
Every note I played, another scar he made
[Pre-Chorus]
Perfect posture, straight spine
Trying to make these melodies divine
But my fingers shake, my spirit breaks
Under the weight of all his takes
[Chorus]
Ivory scars on my soul
Playing by the rules I was told
But baby, I'm breaking free
From the chains he placed on me
These ivory scars tell my tale
Of how I learned to bend but didn't fail
[Verse 2]
Sheet music scattered on the floor
Can't take his criticism anymore
"Wrong tempo, wrong feel"
Baby, this pain is so damn real
Classical training turned to shame
Now I'm playing a different game
[Bridge]
Masterclass disaster
Heart beating faster
But honey, watch me now
I'm finding my own sound
These scars made me stronger
Won't let them hold me any longer
[Chorus]
Ivory scars on my soul
Playing by the rules I was told
But baby, I'm breaking free
From the chains he placed on me
These ivory scars tell my tale
Of how I learned to bend but didn't fail
[Outro]
Now I play these keys my way
Let my soul have its say
These ivory scars might stay
But they made me who I am today
Black and white keys set me free
Finally playing what's inside of me