Before The Applause
Everybody sees the light once
somebody turns the sign on.
Everybody knew you had
it once you already
proved 'em right. Funny.
Could've used that information
before.
They call you crazy when the room stays small,
Then call you gifted when your name gets tall.
Same damn work, same hands,
same scars, Difference is now they know who you are.
Nobody saw those nights getting built in the dark,
Nobody applauded the very first spark.
Then something catches, suddenly everybody knew— ‘Man,
I always said there was something about you.’
Did you? THEY LOVE YOU AFTER!
THEY BELIEVE YOU AFTER!
Funny how the truth gets louder after.
After you win, after you leave,
After there's nothing left they gotta believe.
Could've said it when it mattered— But everybody loves you AFTER.
(AFTER... AFTER...)
After the numbers, after the crowd,
After the quiet gets suddenly loud.
After the struggle becomes a good story,
Everybody wants fingerprints on the glory.
They missed the hunger but toast the feast,
Never fed the fire,
wanna stand by the heat.
And loyalty's funny—it gets praised when it's gone,
Sacrifice gets beautiful once it becomes a song.
Flowers arrive when nobody can smell 'em,
Words finally spoken when nobody can tell 'em,
‘I always loved him.’ ‘I always knew.’ Then why the hell didn't
you tell him when he could hear you?
(We always knew...) No.
You know now. (We always cared...) Then you should've said it.
This ain't about revenge.
It's about timing.
Give people their flowers while they can still fucking find them.
Tell somebody they're brilliant before the whole world agrees.
Tell somebody they matter while they're still there to believe.
(BEFORE... BEFORE... BEFORE...)
DON'T LOVE ME AFTER!
BELIEVE ME BEFORE!
Don't wait for the whole damn world to open the door!
Say what you mean while I'm standing right here,
Don't
save your loudest words for when I disappear!
(BEFORE!) Before I win!
(BEFORE!) Before I'm gone!
(BEFORE!) While I can hear the damn song!
(THEY LOVE YOU AFTER...) Love 'em before.