[Verse 1]
Mama had three jobs
I had three bus routes
One for the school
One straight to the plug house
One to the dreams
Greyhound, broke seat, stretched out
Prayin' for a window
Woke up at the last stop, stressed out
Couch surf, auntie floor, roach on the remote
Uncle sippin' storm in a styrofoam boat
He said "Boy, pick a poison or a purpose"
I was writin' verses on the back of his court notice
[Chorus]
I'm halfway out the mud, toes still stuck
Hand on the ladder, heart on luck
If the rain don't stop, I might flood this block
Turn pain to a pocket full of crumpled up knots
I'm halfway out the mud, still stain on my soul
One foot in the past, other foot on gold
If I slip, I slide where the cold ones go
So I climb, I climb, 'til my hands let go (yeah)
[Verse 2]
Coach said "Run routes"
I was runnin' from doubt
That field had dreams
But the scale had clout
Homie ran plays
'til the reaper called timeout
Jury took minutes
Took his twenties, took his shine out
I learned quick, every corner got a plot twist
Smile with a side eye, handshake with the side dish
Drama on the stove, mama stirrin' up the light bill
I was tryna bargain with a God I ain't write still
Talkin' 'if you get us through the night,
I will never touch the white'
Then I counted what we owed
And I almost changed my mind
Saw my little sister sleep
With her book bag like a shield
That's the night I took the pen
Like a pistol in the field (pow)
[Chorus]
I'm halfway out the mud, toes still stuck
Hand on the ladder, heart on luck
If the rain don't stop, I might flood this block
Turn pain to a pocket full of crumpled up knots
I'm halfway out the mud, still stain on my soul
One foot in the past, other foot on gold
If I slip, I slide where the cold ones go
So I climb, I climb, 'til my hands let go
[Bridge]
Every scar on my name
Is a barcode, ring at the gate (ring)
Every loss that I take
Got a side bet tucked in the safe
If the sky fall down
Imma still look up
'Cause the dirt know me
But it never owned us (nah)
[Chorus]
I'm halfway out the mud, toes still stuck
Hand on the ladder, heart on luck
If the rain don't stop, I might flood this block
Turn pain to a pocket full of crumpled up knots
I'm halfway out the mud, still stain on my soul
One foot in the past, other foot on gold
If I slip, I slide where the cold ones go
So I climb, I climb, 'til my hands let go