Raised on empty

I was raised on empty, but my heart ran full

In a town with rust, where the nights pulled dull

Mama had worries, Daddy had gone

So I made my own way with a half-broke song

Didn’t have much but I had my name

And a mind full of thunder I couldn’t tame

Folks said, “Boy, life’ll wear you thin”

I just smiled — let the storm roll in

’Cause I was raised on empty, but I don’t break

Turned every no into a step I take

From the ashes, from the mud, from the burned-out past

I built a life that’s holdin’ fast

A little rough, a little wild, but proud as hell

Got a fire in my chest, and I wear it well

No handouts, no silver key

Just a buck in my pocket and a heart runnin’ free

Heard lies in the mirror, fought ghosts in the dark

But I never let ‘em steal my spark

Took the pain, made it gasoline

Now I’m burnin’ down fear like it’s kerosene

I ain’t perfect, but I’m damn sure real

A little scarred up but I never kneel

Life don’t owe me — and I don’t beg

I’ll ride this dream ‘til it breaks a leg

Yeah, I was raised on empty, now I run on soul

With a six-string truth and a blacktop goal

Ain’t got a mansion or a clean-cut name

But I’ll take every mile and stake my claim

A little lost, a little loud — that’s me

Raised on empty… but finally free