The Smile Underneath

Oh, little girl, so far from home
You think that you’re no good
Because you don’t weight seven stone
Though others say you should
Your mother’s never satisfied
She makes you feel unsure
You watch the way she weighs her food
So this must be the cure
Your father drowns his weight in drink
For reasons so unclear
You hear the way his body aches
And vomits up his fear
Oh, little girl, so scared and brave
So confused in your skin
You are just too young to crave
The emptiness within
Oh, little girl, please hear me now
Your father loves you so
He’s got a funny way of showing it
But someday you will know
Just how your mother cries for you
And for your frozen face
Please promise me, you’ll fight for all
Your beauty and your grace
The nights feel even longer with
These voices in your head
Keeping your eyes open
As you starve upon your bed
You live your life in silent dread
And never voice your grief
Destroying piece by piece instead
The smile that’s underneath
Oh, little girl, you hide away
With your ear against the door
You listen and you blame yourself
When your loved ones are at war
But your parents they pray every day
And hope you’ll realize
The truth in your reflection
And the loss within your eyes
Oh, little girl, please hear me now
Your father loves you so
He’s got a funny way of showing it
But someday you will know
Just how your mother cries for you
And for your frozen face
Please promise me, you’ll fight for all
Your beauty and your grace
Oh, little girl, now skin and bone
A slave to Ana’s voice
Living in the psyche ward
Life has brought you a choice
You’ll draw across the curtain
After many years of rest
Beams of light cascading
On the hollows of your chest
Standing there, and shown upon
Your sunken face a smile
You’ll grapple at your wrists and ask
«Was it all worthwhile?»
She’ll tell you that she loves you
She hopes you understand
But you’re not free with your heart
Confined within her hands
Oh, little girl, please hear me now
Your father loves you so
He’s got a funny way of showing it
But someday you will know
Just how your mother cries for you
And for your frozen face
Please promise me, you’ll fight for all
Your beauty and your grace
Fight for your smile
Your smile underneath
Fight for your smile
Smile underneath