← the bell jar: victoria lucas
FILE 14 OF 17 / —

private museum

  • COLLECTION EXPANDING
  • OPEN LATE / POORLY LIT
  • WING UNDER MAINTENANCE

“Every year is proof I made it, every year takes something too”

CASE NOTE

Getting older as privilege and loss at the same time. Another candle means she got here, and it means someone else did not. The heart becomes a private museum, open late, poorly lit, a new room for every absence.

Life happens anyway, the chorus says, past the plans and the people who don't stay. The outro lights one more candle, and only doubt grows old with her.

LYRICS / TRANSCRIPT

Verse 1

I thought age would travel lightly

Leave the heavy things behind

But it brings them to the table

Sits them down beside the wine

Another candle, another name

I can't invite into the room

Growing older means I got here

It means they didn't too

Pre-Chorus

The heart becomes a private museum

Open late and poorly lit

Half the wing is under maintenance

No one visits, a few still care

Chorus

Life happens anyway

Past the plans we couldn't save

Past the doors that never opened

Past the people who don't stay

Every year is proof I made it

Every year takes something too

I am living, I am losing

Both can crowd an empty room

Verse 2

I keep receipts of sorrow

Souvenirs of getting used

Trauma bonds and party stories

I'd hand back if I could

Some breaks leave the bones still working

And rearrange the way you move

You survive, and then you meet

The stranger that it made out of you

Pre-Chorus

The heart becomes a private museum

Nothing leaves when seasons do

The life turns into memorabilia

Each new absence gets a room

Chorus

Life happens anyway

Past the plans we couldn't save

Past the doors that never opened

Past the people who don't stay

Every year is proof I made it

Every year takes something too

I am living, I am losing

Both can crowd an empty room

Bridge

They say growing old's a privilege

As if that's meant to be good news

A privilege I keep paying for

Around people I wouldn't choose

I can love the years that kept me

And resent what they withdrew

Some days I call it living

Some days I just get through

Chorus

Life happens anyway

Far beyond the shape we gave

It arrives without permission

Takes whatever it will take

The calendar keeps turning

Like a bitch with no mistakes

I am living, I am losing

It files them both the same

Life happens anyway

Shit happens anyway

Outro

Another candle, another name

After a while, you only lose

The year turns over anyway

Only doubt grows old with you

PUBLISHED CREDITS
ARTIST
Haylie Ferguson
EDITION
the bell jar: victoria lucas
LABEL
Maison Oblique Entertainment
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