The Metal Ribbon (Extended 1)

Verse 1

Got a yellow plastic reel

Tugged the metal clip with my thumb

Pulled it out slow

Saw the numbers start to run

Dirty marks on the ribbon

Marked up the tabletop wood

Little strip of steel

Did exactly what it should

Chorus

You called it a mile

You called it a mountain

I see the truth

I see the truth

It's just three inches

Down to the bone

Plain as the sun

The numbers don't lie

Numbers don't lie

Post-Chorus

Just three inches

Measuring the lie

Watching it shrink

Verse 2

Stretched it tight

Past the kitchen sink tile

Clicking sound in my hand

Wore a jagged bitter smile

Scars on my knuckles

Cold blade against the grain

One two three

Counting out the brand of pain

Held it flat

No way to stretch it thin

A man's worth

Is exactly where we begin

Chorus

You called it a mile

You called it a mountain

I see the truth

I see the truth

It's just three inches

Down to the bone

Plain as the sun

The numbers don't lie

Numbers don't lie

Post-Chorus

Just three inches

Measuring the lie

Watching it shrink

Bridge

Locked at the mark

Static in the wood

I saw it

I measured it

I knew it

Nothing more to find

In this hollow yard

Let the spring coil back

Let the metal snap shut

Chorus

You called it a mile

You called it a mountain

I see the truth

I see the truth

It's just three inches

Down to the bone

Plain as the sun

The numbers don't lie

Numbers don't lie

Outro

Zipped back into the case

Short on the finish

Short on the ghost

Only three inches

Three inches long

Guitar Solo

Chorus

You called it a mile

You called it a mountain

I see the truth

I see the truth

It's just three inches

Down to the bone

Plain as the sun

The numbers don't lie

Numbers don't lie

Final Outro

Clapped that lock

Back in the drawer

Measured it out

Won't measure no more

Small as a thumb

Big as a bluff

Just three inches

And that’s enough

Three inches

(Measured it)

Three inches

(Treasurer)

Now let it go

Walking out the door

Gone

Gone

Gone

(Tape snap)