[Intro] Na na na na na na na na… Let me try that again - I’m just warming up — [Cold][Clears throat] [Verse 1] I want to talk about the cycles that we break (na na na) I want to talk about the paths we don’t all take (la la la la) I want to say there’s a way to go upstream Without becoming what you— -I added a hook there And Yes! Yes - that was intentional -
I want to say that integrity is all you need (na na na-na-na) I want to say that honest feelings pave the way (la la la la) I want to make a point about convention and the crowd But there’s a hook in my chest I can’t shut out
[Pre-Chorus - voices getting suspicious] This is the— (na na na na na) I wanna do the— (la la la la la la) This is about the— (ooh-woah-oh) OK…I’m doing it, just a little -
[Chorus - FULL HOOK MODE] Na na na na na na, stay true to yourself La la la la la la la la, put your song on the shelf Ooh-woah-oh, go against the grain (this is a cliché) Pa-parap-pa-pa I said it once and I’ll say it again (that’s TWO clichés)
[Verse 2] There’s a version of this where I finish the whole song (na na na) Without a single hook you’d remember when it’s gone (la-la-la) Without a na-na-na or an ooh-woah-oh or an oh-oh-oh But here’s the truth I’m beginning to see — hmmmm
The hooks aren’t where the problem lives, the problem lives in hiding The problem isn’t standing out, the problem’s staying honest and somtimes - Sometimes honest comes in na-na-na’s And sometimes integrity sounds like a la-la-la
[Pre-Chorus] Okay but was I rationalizing? Maybe I AM rationalizing this But I can’t keep this in — …not really - Need to scream IT!!!
[Chorus] Na na na na na na, stay true to yourself La la la la la la la la, put your song on the shelf Ooh-woah-oh, go against the grain (still a cliché) Pa-parap-pa-pa I said it twice and I’ll keep saying it — again and again
[Bridge - the full reckoning] You know what? I think I’ve figured it out The cliché isn’t in the na-na-na The cliché is in doing na-na-na while pretending you don’t
And I just sang nine hooks I counted In a song about avoiding hooks you know And it somehow still says what I mean, it does Better than anything without the hooks could -maybe
So maybe the unpopular decision Isn’t to avoid the thing that works Maybe it’s to use it and admit it And not pretend that you transcend the na-na-na-na -na -na -na
[Pre-Chorus - resolved, resigned] So one more time— (na na na) For integrity— (la la la) And honest feelings— (ooh-woah-oh) And going against the— (Pa-parap-pa-pa) NA NA NA - Ready??
[Final Chorus - fully committed, unhinged] Na na na na na na, stay true to yourself La la la la la la la la, put your song on the shelf Ooh-woah-oh, go against the grain Na na na na na la la la ooh-woah-oh I’ll keep saying it
[Outro - cheerful, unrepentant] Na na na na na na La la la la la la la la Ooh-woah-oh Pa-parap-pa-pa
Na na na na na na La la la la la la ooh-woah-oh Pa-parap-pa-pa
[Clears throat] Ok - I think I made my point, right?