[Verse 1] She built them up herself Every layer, every fold Told herself the higher up The less of her to hold She learned to greet the world From a very careful place But you keep pressing right on the seam Where it starts to give way
[Pre-Chorus] She can’t explain why she lets you But she does
[Chorus] Paper walls, paper walls She had them stacked up to the ceiling Paper walls, paper walls You walked right through without even trying Now she doesn’t know what to do With someone who can see her
[Verse 2] She’s practiced being fine She’s gotten good at it She knows the right response For every room she’s in But then you say something quiet And the whole thing starts to fold She wasn’t meant for careful hands She wasn’t built to be known
[Pre-Chorus] She can’t explain why she stays But she does
[Chorus] Paper walls, paper walls She had them stacked up to the ceiling Paper walls, paper walls You walked right through without even trying Now she doesn’t know what to do With someone who can see her
[Bridge] Maybe thin is not the same as breakable Maybe letting someone in Doesn’t mean the whole thing comes apart She used to think being seen Was the thing she had to run from But you’re still here And she hasn’t left yet
[Chorus] Paper walls, paper walls She had them stacked up to the ceiling Paper walls, paper walls You walked right through without even trying Now she doesn’t know what to do With someone who can see her
[Guitar Solo]
[Final Chorus] Paper walls, paper walls She built them all herself, she knows every line Paper walls, paper walls You walked right through without even asking Maybe she’s okay with that Maybe she’ll let you see her
[Outro] She built the walls herself But you walked right through She built them all herself And maybe that’s okay