"Bang Bang" lyrics

They told me to be quieter, to dim it down a little
Stay inside the lines they drew and keep it to the middle
But something in my chest has been demanding to be heard
And every time I held it back it only got more sure

I practiced being smaller for so many years
Swallowed every thunder, blinked away the tears
But the thing about a fire is it doesn't ask permission
And tonight I'm done apologizing for my ambition

Bang bang, hear me loud and clear
Bang bang, I was always here
I'm electric, I'm alive tonight
Bang bang - watch me burn this whole place bright

Every room I walked into I made myself invisible
Convinced myself that wanting more was somehow criminal
But I look around and see the ones who never held their fire
And I'm done playing smaller just to keep the room comfortable

This isn't for applause and it's not for anyone's approval
I stopped performing silence like it made me more approachable
The voltage in my veins has been building for a long time
And tonight I let it out, no apology, no headline

Bang bang, hear me loud and clear
Bang bang, I was always here
Can't contain what I've become tonight
Bang bang - I already won this fight

You wanted quiet, I gave you thunder
You wanted still, I pulled you under
You wanted small, I gave you everything
Now watch me rise on my own terms

Bang bang, hear me loud and clear
Bang bang, finally I am here
I'm electric, I'm alive and free
Bang bang - this is who I'm meant to be