This song is for everyone who has been judged without anyone truly knowing their battle. The lyrics talk about pain that makes no noise, about internal wars the world cannot see but that burn just the same. Not everyone who is standing is okay, sometimes just standing is already the greatest proof of strength.

If you have ever had to smile while falling apart inside, this song is yours too. This is not about playing the victim, it is about silent resistance. Some people smell the ashes and think the fire is over, but they have no idea what is still burning inside. This song is about that, surviving when nobody applauds, moving forward while carrying embers in your chest.

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(Ooh-ooh)

You see the smoke, but never the flame inside

Just the aftermath, where the broken pieces hide

Didn't scream, didn't break, didn't put on a show

Just learned to breathe when the fires start to grow

And they whisper 'bout the damage, how it all fell apart

Never knew the silent war waged inside my heart

Yeah, you only smell the ashes, but the fire's burning still

Judge the quiet embers, never felt the burning chill

Swallowed down the flames, learned to wear a steady smile

Living with the burning in the smell of ashes, all the while

(Smell of ashes)

They measure suffering by the tears that stain the face

By the outward crumbling, the visible disgrace

But my trauma's not a story for the world to see and keep

It's a silent, heavy burden, buried down so deep

And they point the finger, say I never truly fought

When the hardest battles are the ones that can't be taught

Yeah, you only smell the ashes, but the fire's burning still

Judge the quiet embers, never felt the burning chill

Swallowed down the flames, learned to wear a steady smile

Living with the burning in the smell of ashes, all the while

(Smell of ashes, yeah-eh-eh)

Not all wounds bleed outward, not all scars are plain to find

Strength is looking whole, while chaos fills the mind

YOU ONLY SMELL THE ASHES, BUT THE FIRE'S BURNING STILL!

JUDGE THE QUIET EMBERS, NEVER FELT THE BURNING CHILL!

SWALLOWED DOWN THE FLAMES, LEARNED TO WEAR A STEADY SMILE!

LIVING WITH THE BURNING IN THE SMELL OF ASHES, ALL THE WHILE!

(Smell of ashes...)

(Burning inside...)

🖤🖤🖤

JOHN Z ⚡

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