Iron in My Voice

[Verse 1]
He said “I’m good”
jaw tight, eyes red
Scrollin’ through his phone
left my text on read
Work boots by the door
but he can’t leave the bed
Whole life on his back
heart hangin’ by a thread
Laugh loud with the boys
then cry in the car
Hides it in the gym
chasin’ one more rep, one more scar
Dad said “man up”
so he swallowed every tear
Now he’s drownin’ in the dark
where no one ever volunteers
[Chorus]
Iron in my voice
doesn’t mean I can’t break
Being strong don’t mean
I never shake
If your head feels heavy
and your faith feels gone
Say the words out loud
you are not alone
Yeah, vulnerability’s strength
that’s how we hold on
Say the words out loud
you are not alone
[Verse 2]
Brother on the line
says he “just needed air”
Staring at the ceiling fan
floatin’ in that chair
Bottle on the counter
Bible in the drawer
One more long night
he don’t wanna see tomorrow
So I told him “talk, man
cuss, cry, scream”
Put it on the table
spill every broken dream
You ain’t weak for bleedin’
you’re brave for showin’ wounds
We can’t heal in silence
locked inside a crowded room
[Chorus]
Iron in my voice
doesn’t mean I can’t break
Being strong don’t mean
I never shake
If your head feels heavy
and your faith feels gone
Say the words out loud
you are not alone
Yeah, vulnerability’s strength
that’s how we hold on
Say the words out loud
you are not alone
[Bridge]
To the fathers, to the sons
to the friends who disappeared
To the ones who passed the test
but lost the year
I see you, I need you
stay right here (hey)
Let the hurt hit air
let the shame burn clear
[Chorus]
Iron in my voice
doesn’t mean I can’t break
Being strong don’t mean
I never shake
If your head feels heavy
and your faith feels gone
Say the words out loud
you are not alone
Yeah, vulnerability’s strength
that’s how we hold on
Say the words out loud
you are not alone
(say it, say it)
Say the words out loud
you are not alone

rap, Slow, powerful hip-hop live set: male vocals with a gravelly, confessional tone over a minimal piano loop and deep, roomy kick. Verses sit close-mic’d like spoken word; hook blooms with stacked crowd-style chants, warm bass, and distant gospel oohs. Snare and tom fills swell into the final chorus, ending on a lone vocal and lingering piano chord., strong, slow, raw, hip hop