When I was young,

I had an activity book.

The cover read:

Take a look!

I'd pass up all the pages,

with the search and finds.

I'd go right to the ones,

with those dotted lines.



*** (chorus)



Cut on the dotted lines,

it told me.

That's all I need to do.

Cut on the dotted lines,

it showed me.

There'll only be a few.

So I went and got my scissors,

and I cut them all so neat.

And when I finished everything,

It felt so sweet.



***



I grew up a little since then,

it was when I was 13.

I realized that the world,

was way, way too mean.

I didn't have the best life,

and that's just 'cause.

But that night I also realized,

I'm not as strong as I thought I was.



*** (chorus)

Cut on the dotted lines,

it told me.

That's all I need to do.

Cut on the dotted lines,

it showed me.

There'll only be a few.

So I went and got my scissors,

and I cut them all so neat.

And when I finished everything,

It felt so sweet.



***

I grew up even more,

as hard as that is to believe.

I run a finger down my scars,

and my smile starts to leave.

They're dotted little marks,

across my arm.

A substitute,

for my emotional harm.



*** (spoken completely)



And you can only do one thing with dotted lines.



*** (chorus)



Cut on the dotted lines,

it told me.

That's all I need to do.

Cut on the dotted lines,

it showed me.

There'll only be a few.

So I went and got my scissors,

and I cut them all so neat.

And when I finished everything,

It still felt so sweet.



***



Well I really did grow up now.

And it's not just a number.

It took me meeting you, to remember.

Cutting's just for paper.

You are my savior...



***



Without you to open my eyes,

I never would have known,

what the future holds;

life's biggest surprise.



***



Things will get better,

I swear.

But don't you cut,

just 'cause you're scared.

I made mistakes sweetheart,

but that's all they were.

Now matter how hard it gets,

Remember, they're just words.



***



You know that book,

I gave you?

The one with Take a look!,

on the cover?

That page with the dotted lines?

Can you look me in the eyes,

and promise me that's all you'll cut,

no matter what?



*** (chorus changed)



Just those dotted lines,

it told her.

That's all that you should do.

Just those dotted lines,

it showed her.

I'll be so proud of you.

So go and get your scissors,

and cut them all so neat.

But just on paper, hun.

'Cause you'll always be,

perfect to me,

no matter how bad it gets.


***