Spoken Word (Intro)
No one in life knows how their story will end.
The only thing we have control over
is our intentions
and the message to our children we send.
Verse 1
Mama walked out, not like before
Left me and my sister on the floor
Barely knee-high, no goodbye
Just silence, questions, asking why
Dad stood tall, said, “I got you, son”
Two roles now, but he never run
Lights stayed on, food on plate
Back bent low, carrying fate
My first hero, heroic and strong
In my world, he could never do wrong
Late-night steps, tired eyes
Still stood strong, never once lied
Dice on tables, cards in hands
Luck and risk was how he planned
Said, “World don’t give, it takes”
Read the room, learn what’s fake
Always focus on the stake
’Cause it all comes down to the choices you make
Called it the game, never crime
Just rules, moves, steps, and time
Never said wrong, never said right
Just “move smart, survive the night”
Always step up, be ready to fight
Hook
I learned the game, yeah I learned it young
How to win fast, how to live numb
Thought I was a man ’cause I paid my dues
But the game don’t care who you lose
I learned the game, yeah I learned it quick
How to move slick, how to take hits
Nobody taught me how to quit
When the crown got heavy, I was stuck in it
Verse 2
I grew up fast, my name got loud
Face too clean, no tears allowed
Friends all around me, doors unlocked
Chrome on my hip, ready and cocked
I thought it was normal, I didn’t know better
Had so many friends, I was a real go-getter
Different girl every night, then a new one each day
Still felt empty, filled with decay
Money came quick, respect came fast
Nightlife running, days went past
Good at it, yeah, elite
King of shadows, no sleep
But inside, that hole stayed wide
Crowded rooms, nowhere to hide
All that noise, none of it real
All that motion, nothing to feel
Then my son came, world went still
Fear hit deep, it changed my will
Tiny hands, big brown eyes
I swore that night I’d change my life
Hook
I learned the game, yeah I learned it young
How to stand tall while I’m coming undone
Thought I was a man ’cause I paid my dues
But the game don’t care who you lose
Verse 3
Steel doors slam, concrete beds
Promises made, then misread
Said behave, said stay clean
Past kept calling, stayed mean
Boy turned nine, I was there
Trying real hard, I swear
Then one flash, one sound, one move
Time slowed down, I already knew
I saw the path, no time to do math
Didn’t flinch, no time to ask
Without even a thought, I did what I was taught
To protect your son, that’s why I jumped on the gun
It’s what any dad would have done
Pain hit hard, lights went dim
Only thought was not him
I lived barely, scars stayed true
Saved his life, but they took him too
From that moment everything started to derail
I even wound up back in jail
I tried so hard not to fail
Like a dog just chasing its tail
Money came at me quick, but it wouldn’t last
Up every night, living in the past
Where did my life go? It’s gone so fast
