Rough times

[Verse 1]

I done slept where the sidewalk meets the pavement,
Woke up with the same clothes on, same problems, same frustration.
No address, no mailbox, still had dreams with my name on it,
Had a whole lotta pain on it, but I put a whole lotta game on it.

I can't watch my people struggle, or watch the system take advantage,
Tryin' to manage the damage, figuring how to understand it.
Some'll shake your hand smiling while they plotting on your downfall,
Some disappear when you need 'em, then come running when the funds call.

I was broke with a vision, now that's a dangerous combination,
Had ambition in my blood steady fighting desperation.
Every meal wasn't guaranteed, every night wasn't safe,
Still I looked myself dead in the mirror like,
"Blood, you better find a way."

I ain't ask for this pressure, I just adapted to it,
Life threw dirt on my name, I put a classic through it.
They don't know what it cost just to still be here standing,
Feeling abandoned, empty-handed and stranded—God dammit.

I done prayed with my pride, had my faith in the basement,
Had conversations with God while I stared at the pavement.
Like, "How much can one man take before the man start breaking?"
Then I heard that little voice say, "You ain't done—you just waiting."

So I got up off the ground with the world on my shoulders,
Every year I got older, every burden got colder.
Had to carry my mistakes while I carried my emotions,
Smiling through the suffering, drowning underneath the surface.

They see the struggle, but they don't see the sacrifice,
Don't know how many times I had to gamble with my life.
I ain't looking for a handout, I just needed something solid,
When you're fighting for survival, desperation get you violent.

But I kept my head—
Even when my heart said fuck it.
Had nothing in my pocket,
Still felt like I had something.

[Pre-Hook]

'Cause I done been down so long,
The bottom started feeling like home.
Had the whole world around me,
Still felt like I was alone.

But if this pain made me,
Then this pain can't break me.
They can bury me in problems,
I swear they won't erase me.