About the song
A story for this song hasn’t been added yet.
Words from the artist’s archive
Protocol Playlist lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
Read the lyric sheet
Intro
Crowd in my left ear, PC fan in my right Keyboard clack tempo, faded Friday night Commentator ghost, then a little alert ring Same old impact, just a different kind of ping
Verse 1
Friday lights smeared halos all over the field Face mask in my mouth, but I still stayed sealed Whistle sounded underwater, clock skipped a beat Coach said, “Shake it off,” put me back on my feet Helmet to the ribs, then the stars came twice I blinked at the huddle like I forgot the price Tape on my wrist, mud on my cleats, vision lag Still heard the crowd roar through a static bag
Pre-chorus
Pressure in my temples like the bass too loud Name on the jersey, but I’m fading in the crowd Everybody cheering when the picture goes red Whole game buffering inside my head
Chorus
Coach said shake it off, chat said run it back Same bright lights, different room, same crack in the mask Whole world buffering, buffering inside my head Subs keep ticking up, memory falling out the thread
Verse 2
Now it’s blackout curtains and a migraine app Sunglasses indoors while I’m trimming up the cap Monitor glow cut sharp like stadium lamps Alert sound needle-point, drilling through the amps I edit clips in the dark with an ice pack low Chat asks why I wince when the bit alerts go Time gets rubbery, noon turns 3 a.m. I save the file twice, then forget where I am
Pre-chorus
Pressure in my temples, low rumble in the bed PC fans whisper like a drill in my head Bills on the desk, sponsors waiting to be fed Whole room buffering inside my head
Chorus
Coach said shake it off, chat said run it back Same bright lights, different room, same crack in the mask Whole world buffering, buffering inside my head Subs keep ticking up, memory falling out the thread
Verse 3
Mid-stream I lose a word, let the sentence hang Crowd clip in the background, old shoulder bang I watch young me flatten somebody near the sideline Then I pause too long trying to finish one line Chat says “you good?” and the emotes drift slow My own voice doubles back through the headset glow Past hit, present ping, both land at once I laugh, then choke up, then forget the punch
Bridge
Fluorescent room, paper sheet, doctor talking low “Mild is still a problem if the symptoms never go” “Muffle the bright screens, rest, step away, reset” I nod like I’m listening, already checking debt
Verse 4
Contract in my inbox with the policy tone Campaign due Monday, rent due on the phone Doctor said downtime, dark room, less strain But a missed upload feels like interest on pain Tinnitus rings thin like a far-off snap count I tell myself one more week till I can tap out But the sponsor wants the smile and the gameplay clean So I dim the key light and split the difference in between
Verse 5
Made a “concussion protocol” playlist for sleep Old highlight reels, chill beats, crowd noise deep One clip of the pick, one clip of the hit One loop of the fan so the room won’t quit Migraine log at 2:17, screen at 4 percent Headphones on my chest like a little accident I call it winding down, but I never really rest Just press play on the damage and let it do the rest
Pre-chorus
Pressure in my temples, heart under the thread Nightstand blinking blue by the side of the bed I should power down, but I queue it up instead Whole life buffering inside my head
Chorus
Coach said shake it off, chat said run it back Same bright lights, different room, same crack in the mask Whole world buffering, buffering inside my head Subs keep ticking up, memory falling out the thread
Outro
Crowd in the left ear, fan noise in the right Playlist on repeat, still awake by first light Helmet by the headset, both cracked at the seam Hard stop, no applause, just the end of the stream
Inside the recording
Crowd in my left ear, PC fan in my right Keyboard clack tempo, faded Friday night
Pressure in my temples like the bass too loud Name on the jersey, but I’m fading in the crowd
Crowd in the left ear, fan noise in the right Playlist on repeat, still awake by first light
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.