Lights are off, curtains drawn

Funny how you didn't notice the show was gone

Still standing in the aisle, hands in the air

Clap a little louder, maybe somebody'll care

You're reviewing a performance that ended last year

Writing love letters to a ghost that disappeared

I moved on, baby, the cast's already flown

You're the only one still cheering in a theatre alone

Got your little program, highlighting every line

Quoting scenes that were never even mine

Sweetheart, the encore's not coming back

The spotlight moved on, you just lost track

Keep on clapping, keep on screaming my name

Nobody's listening, but go off, it's a shame

Wear that smile like it's holding up a lie

Standing ovation for a show that already died

Empty seats, empty seats

Just you and the echo of your own defeat

Curtain's down, house is cleared

I'm already gone and you're still standing here

Empty seats, empty seats

Clapping for a memory you're too scared to leave

Sweetheart, the show is done

You're applauding for a prize you never won

[vocal chops, bratty ad-libs]:

"hah"

"please"

"bye"

Heard you're still waiting in the lobby every night

Staring at the posters like they're coming to life

Honey, that's not love, that's a hostage routine

Got you talking to a stage that forgot your scene

I hope the silence sounds sweet when you replay

The version of the story where I ran away

But I didn't run, baby, I walked out slow

Waved at the exit, watched you sit front row

Keep on clapping, keep on screaming my name

Nobody's listening, but go off, it's a shame

Wear that smile like it's holding up a lie

Standing ovation for a show that already died

Empty seats, empty seats

Just you and the echo of your own defeat

Curtain's down, house is cleared

I'm already gone and you're still standing here

Empty seats, empty seats

Clapping for a memory you're too scared to leave

Sweetheart, the show is done

You're applauding for a prize you never won

Look around, look around, is anybody there?

Just your shadow and a seat that nobody shares

I'm not cruel, I'm just honest when I say

You're performing for a crowd that walked away

Take a bow, take a bow, make it graceful this time

The lights are up, the stage is mine

I'm not the villain in your monologue

I'm just the girl who turned off the fog

Empty seats, empty seats

Just you and the echo of your own defeat

Curtain's down, house is cleared

I'm already gone and you're still standing here

Empty seats, empty seats

Clapping for a memory you're too scared to leave

Sweetheart, the show is done

You're applauding for a prize you never won

Hope you enjoyed the performance, love

Tip the usher on the way out

The show's not coming back

…but thanks for the standing ovation