[Verse 1]
Some will say it's too late
So don't change your story
There's too much at stake to grow
Yesterday was so great
Just bask in the glory
Don't let your feelings show
And I say, oh yeah
Like a man with a condition
I wait for my heart to stop
Oh, and they say, "Stay down
Got a plan, hold that position
You can't afford a flop"

[Pre-Chorus]
Pack my suitcase
With my game face
Take the same place
And put away the dreams I had
Let my hair grow
Find some old clothes
Let the world know
That my glory days were plaid

[Chorus]
I'm not asking for permission
Are you ready for me to be me?
Just pass the ammunition
This prisoner's about to bust free from the chains
[Verse 2]
For so long you told me
To keep it familiar
Just play what they all would buy
I can wear this blindfold
Stick to your story
But I gotta ask myself "Why?"
And I play those songs
For so many seasons
'Til I'm sure I'm losing my mind
And I say, "Oh no
Gotta have a much better reason
To leave all my dreams behind"

[Pre-Chorus]
Others change it
Rearrange it
Stay the same thing
And become your favorite fad
With the see-through
I gotta be true
I can't be you
Polyester comes in plaid

[Chorus]
I'm not asking for permission
Are you ready for me to be me?
Lord, pass some ammunition
This prisoner's about to bust free from your chains
I'm more than just excited
Like a hundred pounds of monkey off my back
(I've got to find myself out)
Now everybody's invited
To ride this train 'til we run clean out of track
Clean out of track
[Pre-Chorus]
With the see-through
I gotta be true
I can't be you
Polyester comes in plaid

[Chorus]
I'm not asking for permission
Are you ready for me to be me? (Yeah, oh)
Well, pass some ammunition
This prisoner's about to bust free from the chains
I'm more than just excited
It's like a hundred pounds of monkey off my back
(I've got to find myself out)
Now everyone's invited
To ride this train 'til we run clean out of track (Oh)

[Outro]
I'm not asking for permission
Are you ready for me to be me? (Oh)
Just pass some ammunition
This prisoner's about to bust free from the chains
I'm more than just excited
Like a hundred pounds of monkey off my back