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Playing Chess

by Madeline Harper Guest

on The Ending Stays the Same (2018)

You've been using your words to move my pawns
Changing my mind so you can get what you want
Got me in a corner and I just can't see
Looking for answers so I can be free
And even though I know I'm done
I can't find the way to tell someone

But my pawns have been taken and my king is in check
Queen's moving backwards and my castle is a mess
And I just keep trying to say what I need to say
My words just keep getting taken away
And all I can think about is, all through this mess
How did I not realize that we were playing chess
And while I was trying to find a way to stay sane
You were just changing the rules of the game?

The words never seem to leave my mouth
'Cause when you speak I, I can't make a sound
And even though I know I've lost
I can't find the way to grasp the cost

'Cause my pawns have been taken and my king is in check
Queen's moving backwards and my castle is a mess
And I just keep trying to say what I need to say
My words just keep getting taken away
And all I can think about is, all through this mess
How did I not realize that we were playing chess
And while I was trying to find a way to stay sane
You were just changing the rules of the game
The rules of the game?

And all I want is a break from this madness
To say a word without moving a piece
But no matter how hard I try
This king won't tip over...

'Cause my pawns have been taken and my king is in check
Queen's moving backwards and my castle is a mess
And I just keep trying to say what I need to say
My words just keep getting taken away
And all I can think about is, all through this mess
How did I not realize that we were playing chess
And while I was trying to find a way to stay sane
You were just changing the rules of the game?

'Cause my pawns have been taken and my king is in check
Queen's moving backwards and my castle is a mess
And while I was keep trying to say what I need to say
My words just keep getting taken away
And all I can think about is, all through this mess
How did I not realize that we were playing chess
And while I was trying to find a way to stay sane
You were just changing the rules of the game?