[Verse 1]
Tuesday, eleven forty, sink full of Tuesday's plates,
phone lit up with three missed calls I let it sit and wait,
boss wants the numbers typed by nine, the landlord wants the check,
I told my sister "I'm okay" with water at my neck,
typed out "could you maybe—" then I backspaced every word,
pride's a life vest with the valve stuck shut, that's just absurd,
I carried boxes solo 'cause the elevator's slow,
I'd rather strain a shoulder than let one more person know,
the kitchen light's the only thing still waiting up with me,
I built this little fortress and I swallowed down the key.
[Chorus]
I kept on swimming quiet, didn't make a sound,
thought the strongest swimmer never lets a hand pull her out.
I kept on swimming quiet, going down so slow,
nobody waves for help when they're too proud to let it show.
[Verse 2]
Thursday, neighbor knocks with casserole, no invitation sent,
says "you looked kinda wrung out," and the dam I built just bent,
I didn't broadcast it, didn't post it for the room,
opened up the quiet app that only holds one bloom,
it don't ask for a crowd, don't want your whole contact book,
just the name of one person, the one you'd trust to look,
typed my cousin Mara's name, my thumb hung on the key,
hit send before the old pride could reach out and strangle me,
four minutes later: "finally — I wondered when you'd call,"
turns out the hardest part was choosing one name, that's all.
[Bridge]
Asking don't erase the current, don't drain the flooded room,
some nights I'll still reach for the bucket before I reach for you,
but one name is a rope, not a rescue, not a cure,
just enough to keep my chin up till the water's sure.
[Verse 3]
Saturday, the mirror catches someone I don't know,
smiling at the checkout line while drowning down below,
I used to think the ocean owed me credit for the miles,
turns out it don't care how far you've swum or how you smile,
I'm learning that a lighthouse ain't a weakness, it's a guide,
it don't shame the ship for needing somewhere safe to hide,
so I'm keeping Mara's number taped up on my wall,
in case the water rises and I need to make the call,
the kitchen light's still burning but it's not the only one,
I built a bridge instead of walls, and now I'm not alone.
[Chorus]
I kept on swimming quiet, didn't make a sound,
thought the strongest swimmer never lets a hand pull her out.
I kept on swimming quiet, going down so slow,
nobody waves for help when they're too proud to let it show.
[Chorus]
I kept on swimming quiet, didn't make a sound,
thought the strongest swimmer never lets a hand pull her out.
I kept on swimming quiet, going down so slow,
nobody waves for help when they're too proud to let it show.