Open Window (Nobody Knew) is about the contradiction between visible childhood memories — bikes, football, vacations and spring air — and the fear that existed inside the home where outsiders could not see it.
I remember bikes in the cul-de-sac, football fields, crawdads in the creek, vacations, spring air through my bedroom window, and clean sheets on the bed.
I also remember fear.
Inside the house, silence was expected. My father’s anger could shift everything in seconds.
Nobody knew what lived behind the walls.
[Verse 1] Spring air through an open screen Brand new sheets, but I don’t know what it means Sunlight dancing on a quiet floor I learned real young not to talk much anymore Cul-de-sac, riding in circles Fast as hell but going nowhere on purpose Creek water, crawdads in my hand Little king of a nowhere land [Pre-Chorus] Top of the class, they said I was gifted But no one saw how the silence shifted [Chorus] Nobody knew I was lonely inside Smiling loud but I had nowhere to hide Undefeated on the field, I was gold But no one ever asked how I’d hold All that quiet… all that weight A kid too smart just learning to wait For someone to see what I never showed Nobody knew… so nobody knows [Verse 2] TV rolling in the classroom light Challenger falling from the sky that night Everyone froze, I just stared ahead Something cracked but nothing was said Second base with dirt on my knees Football nights, yeah we never lost a season Cocky grin but I stayed real still ‘Cause at home you learn what silence can kill [Pre-Chorus] Too damn smart for the lines they drew So I broke the rules like I always do [Chorus] Nobody knew I was lonely inside Skipped those halls just to feel alive Arcade lights and a Burger King crown Whole damn world but I still felt down All that quiet… all that weight A kid outgrowing every cage they made Running fast but stuck in place Nobody saw behind my face [Bridge] GT bike and a runaway mind Mall lights glowing like a different life Printed “NOT” just to watch it burn Guess I always needed something to turn Chaos calling but I stayed unseen Somewhere lost between loud and clean Just a kid with a storm held tight Learning how to disappear in plain sight [Final Chorus] Nobody knew I was lonely inside Not the wins, not the laughs, not the pride From the creek to the field to the screen I was there… but never seen All that quiet… built this soul Every crack made the story whole You hear it now, but back then it showed, Nobody knew… …so nobody knows