Life In Parentheses

Despite the impression I've devoted my life
 To this profession, I would flat deny
 That I rely on you
 I don't rely on you
 But these papers that I've helped you write
 Throughout the many years in your hire
 May be all that I have to
 Really hang on to -
 So I rely on you
 (Life between the lines)
 My contributions feel resigned
 To being secondary added lines
 As if pre-designed
 To be parenthesized
 And it makes if even worse each time
 They put your name in front and bracket mine
 I guess they might assume
 And yeah, it might be true
 That I rely on you
 (Life between the lines)
 Now it's got the best of me
 My life in parentheses
 Bound on either side
 A second place aside
 It's only a fine line
 Between the spotlight and the sideline
 It's time to knock the brackets down
 Turn my life around
 And bid you goodbye
 Now it's got the best of me
 My life in parentheses
 Bound on either side
 Separately inside
 It seems like a lifetime
 Of sitting, waiting on the sideline
 It's time to knock the brackets down
 Turn my life around
 And bid you goodbye
 I don't know why I don't stand alone
 But I'm not quite sure that I can stand alone