Look closer It's lighter than it looks Golden heads with paper spines Smiling big, avoiding lines Everyone wants something clean Without the mess of standing in You swear allegiance when it's warm Disappear when weather turns Calling distance self-respect While leaving bridges half-burned Funny how loyalty sounds poetic Until it asks you to stay Funny how everyone's honest As long as there's nothing to pay Hollow crowns, polished lies Heavy words that don't survive Wear them proud, wear them loud Till the echo fades tonight You want power without roots Want the throne without the truth All these hollow, hollow crowns Break the moment they're pushed You say: It's never that deep Till it cuts you open wide Then suddenly it's personal Suddenly you ask me why You don't fall, you slowly bend Each excuse another step Calling silence being kind When it's fear you won't confront Everyone wants loyalty But only when it's free Everyone loves the word forever Till it asks for consistency Hollow crowns, polished lies Heavy words that don't survive Wear them proud, wear them loud Till the echo fades tonight You want power without roots Want the throne without the truth All these hollow, hollow crowns Break the moment they're pushed Loyalty isn't loud It doesn't beg It doesn't sell itself It stays when clapping ends Hollow crowns, watch them fall When there's no one left to call No applause, no disguise Just the weight you couldn't hold You can keep your fragile throne I'll keep what I didn't fold All these hollow, hollow crowns Were never built to last at all Some crowns shine Others just make noise