[Intro]
Sierra nine seven, radio crackle in the rain
Delta Mike one on the shoulder, different kind of weight
I learned to stand where panic tells me run
Still here, still breathing, still becoming someone
[Verse 1]
Started with a code and a borrowed pair of boots
Watching every doorway, checking every route
Night shift coffee going cold by the screen
Smiling for the public while my thoughts got mean
Badge on the chest, pressure in the ribs
Nobody sees the war behind the way I live
I could read a room, read a threat, read a face
But couldn’t read the signs when I was losing pace
Clocked in steady, head full of noise
Trying to sound certain with a shaking voice
Then a supervisor said, “You’ve got the eye”
Funny how a little trust can keep a man alive
[Pre-Chorus]
I carried every doubt through the checkpoint line
Turned the weight in my lungs into overtime
If the fear wants a seat, let it sit in the back
I’m not healed by pretending—I’m learning to act
[Chorus]
From Sierra nine seven to Delta Mike one
I kept my hands steady when the hard days came
Built a command voice out of damage and doubt
Now I lead from the front, I don’t shut it out
If my mind goes dark, I tell somebody straight
No shame in the struggle, no pride in the weight
I’m a boss in the making, not a man made of stone
Protecting the team while I work on my own
[Verse 2]
Promotion came with a clipboard and a crew
People looking up, asking what to do
Had to learn that strength ain’t barking every order
It’s knowing when to pause at the edge of the border
Briefing at six, then a call at two
One eye on the incident, one eye on the team too
I know that blank stare, that “I’m fine” disguise
I’ve worn it in mirrors with the same tired eyes
So we check in twice, keep the welfare real
A secure site means nothing if the people can’t heal
I don’t preach perfection, I practice repair
A leader makes room for the truth in the air
[Pre-Chorus]
I carried every doubt through the checkpoint line
Turned the weight in my lungs into overtime
If the fear wants a seat, let it sit in the back
I’m not healed by pretending—I’m learning to act
[Chorus]
From Sierra nine seven to Delta Mike one
I kept my hands steady when the hard days came
Built a command voice out of damage and doubt
Now I lead from the front, I don’t shut it out
If my mind goes dark, I tell somebody straight
No shame in the struggle, no pride in the weight
I’m a boss in the making, not a man made of stone
Protecting the team while I work on my own
[Bridge]
Some nights I still wake with the alarm in my blood
Some days getting dressed feels harder than it should
But I call my support, take the next right step
A title isn’t rescue—discipline is respect
To the guard by the turnstile, to the lead in the van
You can hold responsibility and still need a hand
The strongest command is a life you maintain
Not hiding every wound, but refusing the chain
[Final Chorus]
From Sierra nine seven to Delta Mike one
I kept my hands steady when the hard days came
Built a command voice out of damage and doubt
Now I lead from the front, I don’t shut it out
If my mind goes dark, I tell somebody straight
No shame in the struggle, no pride in the weight
I’m a boss in the making, not a man made of stone
Protecting the team while I work on my own
[Outro]
Sierra nine seven, I remember that name
Delta Mike one, I’m still earning the frame
Not flawless, not fearless, but ready to run
Boss by the work, and the work’s never done