Hook (melodic drill)
I left Dallas in my chest, not my bag,
Mama hugged me tight, said “Son, don’t crash”
New boots, old pain in my past,
New world where the nights move fast
If I don’t come back, play this in my name,
Tell the streets García never ran from flame
I left home but it never left me,
Heart still south, soul still empty
Verse 1
Duffel bag heavy but my soul weighed more,
Signed one line, seen another door
Cut my hair, cut my peace,
Government promises, blood-paid lease
From backyard dreams to battlefield dust,
From Friday smiles to a life on trust
God in my pocket, fear in my throat,
Trying not to sink in a military boat
Every goodbye felt like a crime,
Every night cost another piece of mind
Mama voice stuck in my head,
Saying “Come home whole, not dead”
Dallas heat in my memory skin,
Now it’s cold where I’m sleeping in
If pride is pain, I wear it dressed,
Marine on my back, Dallas in my chest
Hook
I left Dallas in my chest, not my bag,
Mama hugged me tight, said “Son, don’t crash”
New boots, old pain in my past,
New world where the nights move fast
If I don’t come back, play this in my name,
Tell the streets García never ran from flame
I left home but it never left me,
Heart still south, soul still empty
Verse 2
Got brothers now from places I’ll never see,
Same nightmares just different streets
Laugh in danger, cry in the dark,
Soldiers with scars calling it art
Phone calls short, lies always sweet,
“Yeah I’m good,” then I don’t sleep
Every explosion rewrite my brain,
Every silence scream my name
If I go out, I go out true,
Flag on my box, Dallas in view
Tell my mom I tried my best,
Gave my youth to a uniform test
I ain’t chase war, it chased me,
Turned my future to maybes
But if God ask was it worth that road,
I’ma say “I stood tall when the world went cold.”
Final Hook / Outro
I left Dallas in my chest, not behind,
Still hear mama every time I grind
If I fade out from the screen one day,
Just know García didn’t walk away
Play this loud when you think of me,
If my boots stop overseas
Left my heart in Texas soil…
Gave my body to the Corps.