Scott Matthews - The City And The Lie lyrics

City man lives under a clock Eyes on the hands in his race for the top But he's barely afloat in the wreck of his disaster He makes out he's way more important than you Yet the clothes that he wears are all threadbare and used But he still likes to think he can reach higher than you There's no make up that conceals All the true lines that reveal who you are There's no faking from anyone So I wonder how the face you wear Can hide who you are You project a face of happiness 'Cause your real mask is barred And the only place to go Where you can let down your guard Is your sunken retreat 'Round the back of a street Where we act out our lives Fed up with living the lie He's kicking at stones down by the subway As the artist is drawn to his eyes "Would you like me to paint you today?" He contemplates and takes his place So he sits in the chair and starts to twitch Like a needle having fits on the lie-detector grid "Please won't you paint what you see within 'Cause I'm uncomfortable wearing this fake skin" There's a man who's afraid to show up And I'm afraid of what he looks like now But I want to show you who I am So I wonder how the face you wear Can hide who you are You project a face of happiness 'Cause your real mask is barred And the only place to go Where you can let down your guard Is your sunken retreat 'Round the back of a street Where we act out our lives