Don’t Take Them Away

[Intro]
Yeah
Listen
For my kids
For my bloodline
[Verse 1]
Up before the sunrise
Lunchbox, little shoes by the door
Clock in, back bent, red eyes
Ask myself, what I’m doing this for
Miss calls on the phone, can’t answer
FaceTime rings while I’m on that line
Chasing that check like a dancer
While they just want five minutes of my time
They drawing pictures I ain’t seen yet
Teacher saying they been asking where I’m at
Smile in the photos on the fridge set
But I see that little question in the back like
[Chorus]
Don’t take them away from me
Don’t take me away from them
I’m working so hard for we
But I’m scared I’m failing them
I love my kids more than breath
More than money, more than fame
Don’t take them away, I confess
I just wanna give, protect their name
[Verse 2]
Whole life I been the provider
Never learned how to be inside, just beside ya
Broken man trying to build an empire
But what’s a throne if my baby hearts tired
They say, “Daddy, can you stay home?”
While I’m lacing up my boots by the door
Say, “Soon, soon,” in a calm tone
But inside I’m screaming I can’t do this no more
Every overtime, that’s a bedtime missed
Every raise feel like another hug ripped
Stacking gifts that can’t fix this
They want my presence, not a present in a gift wrap
[Chorus]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
[low vocal register]
If I lose this job, will I lose my kids?
If I chase my kids, will the light go dim?
Caught in the middle of fear and faith
[melodic sing-rap]
God, give me strength not to run away
[Chorus]

rap, Mid-tempo hip hop / reggae crossover, male vocals. Clean skank guitar on the offbeat, warm bass gliding under tight, head-nod drums. Verses ride a confessional rap flow with subtle dub delays on the last words; hook flips into a melodic sing-rap chorus with stacked harmonies. Occasional organ swells and filtered drops between sections for emotional impact, vocal front and center in a dry, intimate mix., hip hop, reggae