Kicked My Ass

[Verse 1]
I left class with my cap on
Thought the hard part was done
Then the docs pulled my teeth out
Same week, I got spun
Bent up in the chair, numb jaw
Hands on the wheel, then boom
One hit after another
Like the sky chose my room
I’m straight, but I’m stressed out
Been taking shots from life
No time to cool off, baby
Just keepin’ up the fight
[Pre-Chorus]
Now I’m limpin’ through the daytime
Tryna keep my head right
One bill, then another
I ain’t slept right all night
I said, "Hold up, wait"
But it never waits for me
Still I wipe my face
And I keep my dignity
[Chorus]
Life been kicking my ass
(kicking my ass)
Life been kicking my ass
(kicking my ass)
I’m still here, still standin’
Still draggin’ through the ash
Life been kicking my ass
But it can’t keep me flat
[Verse 2]
Ice packs on the gumline
Receipt stack on the dash
Insurance on the phone line
Talkin’ like a mash
Mama said, "Boy, breathe slow"
Friends said, "You gon’ laugh"
I said, "Yeah, one day for sure"
Right now I’m countin’ the tabs
I had plans for the weekend
Had a clear little path
Now I’m learnin’ resilience
The hard way, real fast
[Pre-Chorus]
Still I rise up early
Even when it hurts to move
One bad turn, then another
I got somethin’ left to prove
I said, "Hold up, wait"
But it never waits for me
Still I wipe my face
And I keep my dignity
[Chorus]
Life been kicking my ass
(kicking my ass)
Life been kicking my ass
(kicking my ass)
I’m still here, still standin’
Still draggin’ through the ash
Life been kicking my ass
But it can’t keep me flat
[Bridge]
Maybe I ain’t lucky
Maybe I’m just built to last
Scars on top of bruises
Still I don’t live in the past
If I fall, I fold it
Then I stand right back up
You can hit me with your worst
But you can’t empty my cup
[Chorus]
Life been kicking my ass
(kicking my ass)
Life been kicking my ass
(kicking my ass)
I’m still here, still standin’
Still draggin’ through the ash
Life been kicking my ass
But it can’t keep me flat

Hip-hop soul with a laid-back swing, dusty drums, elastic bass, and a tense-but-catchy groove; verse rides sparse piano stabs and clipped percussion, pre-chorus opens with stacked vocal lifts and filtered pads, chorus hits with a wide hook and gang backing on the anchor line. Add reversed swells into each section change, a short tape-stop before the second chorus, and a bright, intimate mix with close-mic lead vocals and subtle ad-lib doubles.