Still Burning Gold

I didn't come out clean
I came out shining anyway

Hands still shaking, but I stand tall
Every crack learned how to glow
They thought I'd fade into the dark
But the dark just taught me tone
Every word I swallowed whole
Every tear I hid in smoke
I didn't lose myself in flames
I learned how not to choke

If this is what it costs to feel
I'll pay it slow, I'll pay it real
No crown, no throne, no borrowed light
Just what survived the night

I'm still burning gold
Under broken skin
Still burning gold
From the wars within
They tried to break the mold
Tried to take control
But I'm still burning
Still burning gold

I've danced with doubt, I've kissed the edge
I've heard the lies dressed up as care
Every promise made of glass
Shattered loud, I stayed there
I don't need to be untouched
I don't need to be new
I just need to be real
And still standing through

If I'm scarred, let it show
Every mark already knows
I didn't fall, I didn't fold
I came back burning gold

I'm still burning gold
Under broken skin
Still burning gold
From the wars within
They tried to name my wounds
Like they owned my soul
But I'm still burning
Still burning gold

I thought fire would take me
But it taught me how to stay

I'm still burning gold
Hear my name in the flame
Still burning gold
I survived the change
No halo, no disguise
Just truth I can hold
I didn't come out perfect
I came out gold

Still here
Still glowing