[Verse 1]
Pity, take pity on me
'Cause I'm not half the man that I should be
Always turning to run
From the people I should not be afraid of

And darling, you should know
That I have fantasies about being alone
It's like love is a lesson that I can't learn
So I make the same mistakes at each familiar turn

[Chorus]
I know you can't hold out forever
Waiting on a diamond and a tether
From a boy who won't swim but who will dip his toe in
Just to keep you here with him

[Verse 2]
I've got this habit I abhor
When we go out, I'm always watching the door
As if there's someone I'm gonna see
Who could outdo the things that you do to me

[Chorus]
And I know you can't hold out forever
Waiting on a diamond and a tether
From a boy who won't fly, but who will take to the skies
If he thinks that you're about to say goodbye
[Bridge]
Pity, take pity on me
'Cause I'm not half the man that I should be
And I don't blame you, you've had enough
Of all these empty promises and countless bluffs

[Chorus]
'Cause I know you can't hold out forever
Waiting on a diamond and a tether
From a boy who won't jump when he falls in love
And he just stands with his toes on the edge
And he waits for it to disappear again