Title: “NEEDLE TALK (This Little Light)”
Tempo: ~88–92 BPM
Feel: Minimal, dusty drums, sub bass, vinyl crackle
Delivery: Half-spoken / half-rapped, dynamic pauses
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Intro (spoken, low)
Cold steel…
Warm blood…
Tell the truth.
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Verse 1
Cold, hard needle kiss my vein like it love me
Hypothermic steel in the flesh, try to numb me
Warm blood turn to hush money, pain go quiet
Fear nod off, conscience sleep, soul in a riot
Wake up broke, house empty, morals gone
Sell my future piece by piece just to feel strong
Monkey on my back grew fangs, call it King Kong
I pray while I’m bleeding, still doing shit wrong
Tell my brothers, tell my sisters, this ain’t flex
This addiction do you dirty, break spirit, break necks
Reach for help, they laugh first, pass poison next
Put more dope in the spoon, say “fly,” sign the check
Pre-Chorus (tight, rhythmic)
They don’t wanna save me
They wanna sedate me
They don’t see a human
Just a headline, maybe
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Hook (chanted, haunting)
I’m not tryna get high anymore
I’m tryna get free
Light a fire in my chest, Jah
Where the dark can’t reach
This little light of mine
I guard it with my life
This little light of mine
Still fightin’ through the night
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Verse 2 (faster, Kendrick pocket)
System say cope, pistol or powder
Same damn message, just dressed louder
Tell me disappear polite or die violent
Either way quiet, either way silent
Black skin = target, pain = entertainment
Tell me numb it or bleed on the pavement
I ain’t lookin’ for wings, I’m lookin’ for ground
Tryna stand sober while the world spin round
Needle talk sweet, say “just one more”
Devil sound gentle when he knock on doors
Every relapse feel like déjà vu
Every prayer feel late but I still push through
Pre-Chorus 2
I ain’t clean but I’m conscious
Still here, still honest
If I fall, I get up
That’s progress
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Hook (slightly louder)
I’m not tryna get high anymore
I’m tryna get whole
Light a match in my chest, Jah
Let it burn through my soul
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
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Bridge (spoken, stripped beat)
They taught me escape
I’m learnin’ endurance
They sold me relief
I’m choosin’ assurance
Pain ain’t my God
And death ain’t my friend
If I shine once more
I might save me again
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Final Verse (emotional, half-spoken)
If I make it out alive, tell my story in bars
So another little me don’t worship these scars
I ain’t perfect, I’m present, I’m breathin’ today
That alone feel like somethin’ they tried to take away
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Outro / Chant (echoed)
This little light of mine…
Still here.
Still mine.
Still shine.
Let it shine.
Let it shine.
Let it shine.