You left at dawn, no note, no name
I made myself chai yen, played it so tame
Told all my friends — mai pen rai, I'm fine
Smiled so convincing I believed that lie
But the merit I made at the temple — couldn't keep you
Jasmine on the altar, still your cologne seeping through
I'm Thai, I don't beg, I don't break down in the street
But god, you wrecked me somewhere no one gets to see
Mai pen rai — but I do, I do, I do
I say sabai but I'm burning for you
Three words in Thai I never said out loud
Rak ter — and I buried them so damn proud
Mai pen rai — but it's not okay
Ruk ter — and you walked away
Tuk tuk at midnight, Silom in the rain
Your jacket I kept — aroi mak, my pain
(spoken) Chang mai bring it, I'm done pretending
Even the monks don't know how this one's ending
The river runs through this city like it always did
But every single crossing feels like something slid
I lit incense — asked the spirit what I did wrong
Smoke curled your name, I killed the whole damn song
Mai pen rai — but I do, I do, I do
I say sabai but I'm burning for you
Three words in Thai I never said out loud
Rak ter — and I buried them so damn proud
Mai pen rai — but it's not okay
Ruk ter — and you walked away
(Rak ter, rak ter — why can't I just say it)
Sanuk — they say life should be fun
Sabai — at peace when all is done
I learned those words before I learned your name
Now they taste like smoke and all my blame
(spoken, barely) I don't break. I don't break. I don't—
Mai pen rai — but I do, I do, I do
I say sabai but I'm on fire for you
Three words in Thai, tonight the whole world hears
Rak ter — through every one of these years
Mai pen rai — nah, it's not okay
Rak ter — and you still walked away
Rak ter... mai pen rai...
