[Verse 1]
Back when the rent was late
I still wore a grin
Pinned my dream in my pocket
Next to the cash and sin
I was slick with the talk
But my feet had mud
Mama said, "boy, keep moving"
When the world got rough
Had to learn every smile
Can hide a bruise
Every closed door swing
Can still light a fuse
I seen nights go long
Seen friends fold fast
But I kept my name clean
While I chased that glass
[Pre-Chorus]
I been down, been broke
Been counted out
Still I hear that crowd
When I walk in now
Hold my head up high
Don’t let it die
[Chorus]
I’m going up now
Ain’t nothing hold me down
I’m going up now
Gonna wear that crown
From these hard-ass blocks
To the whole damn town
I’m going up now
Ain’t nothing hold me down
[Verse 2]
Used to count them bills
On a cracked-back chair
Dreamed of stage lights flashing
Like gold in the air
Had a girl ask me
Why I won’t quit
I said, "baby, I was born
For more than this"
Took that pain in my chest
Turned it to flame
Every laugh from the weak
Just fed the game
Now I lace every verse
With the days I survived
If I speak it enough
I can make it alive
[Pre-Chorus]
I been down, been broke
Been counted out
Still I hear that crowd
When I walk in now
Hold my head up high
Don’t let it die
[Chorus]
I’m going up now
Ain’t nothing hold me down
I’m going up now
Gonna wear that crown
From these hard-ass blocks
To the whole damn town
I’m going up now
Ain’t nothing hold me down
[Bridge]
One foot in the fire
One eye on the stage
I wrote my way out
Of that back-room cage
If I fall, I rise
If they doubt, I prove
I got Memphis in my veins
And I got nothing to lose
[Chorus]
I’m going up now
Ain’t nothing hold me down
I’m going up now
Gonna wear that crown
From these hard-ass blocks
To the whole damn town
I’m going up now
Ain’t nothing hold me down