[Intro – soft piano, falsetto ad-libs]
(Ad-lib: “Mmm… yeahhh… uh huh…”)
Strugglin’…
Still breathin’…
But it’s hard out here…
⸻
[Verse 1 – raspy low, slow build]
Every day I wake up fightin’
Gotta smile through all the lyin’
Keep on movin’ through the fire
But inside, I’m so damn tired
(Ad-lib: “So tired… ohh—yeah”)
People say I’m lookin’ strong
But they don’t know what’s goin’ on
Holdin’ on with broken hands
Sinkin’ deep in movin’ sand
(Run: “Uhhh—uhhh—uhhhhhh”)
⸻
[Pre-Chorus – falsetto into belt]
I been prayin’, I been bleedin’
Feelin’ lost without a meanin’
Tryna make a way
But the light keeps fadin’
(Ad-lib: “Don’t fade, don’t fade, don’t fade on me…”)
⸻
[Chorus – explosive high belts with vocal runs]
It’s a struggle — every step I take
Tryna breathe beneath this weight — oh no no
It’s a battle — and I’m fightin’ alone
But I won’t give in, even if I’m broke
It’s a struggle — yeah, yeah, yeah…
(Run: “Strugglin’ just to feel… aliveeeeee”)
Still I rise — still I try — still I cry…
(Ad-lib: “But I ain’t done — not yet, not yet!”)
⸻
[Verse 2 – stronger tone, vocal rasp]
I’ve been laughed at, I’ve been lost
Paid the price, I count the cost
They don’t see the war I wage
Just the smile I put on stage
(Run: “Ohhhh-uhhh-huhhh”)
They say time can heal the pain
But I still feel it when it rains
I been down, but not erased
Still got fire in my veins
(Ad-lib: “Still burnin’ — still hurtin’…”)
⸻
[Bridge – stripped back, emotional climb]
Let the wind take what it wants
Let the night scream through my lungs
I won’t break
I won’t fold
This pain’s a story I own
(Run: “Ooooooooh—yeahhhh—ahhhhhh”)
(Ad-lib: “I own it, I own it now!”)
⸻
[Final Chorus – full emotional vocal fire]
It’s a struggle — but I’m standin’ tall
Even when I gotta crawl — yeah yeah yeahhh
It’s a battle — but I still believe
There’s a fight left inside of me — ohhh
It’s a struggle — strugglin’ for light
(Run: “Yeeeeaaaaahhhhhh”)
But I’ll make it through this night
Still I rise — still I cry — still I fight
(Ad-lib: “Still I breathe — still I believe!”)
*(Run: “Ooooh—ahhhh—uhhh-huhhh”)
⸻
[Outro – piano fade, falsetto + hums]
Mmm… yeah
It’s a struggle…
But I’m still here…
(Whispered falsetto: “Still here… still fightin’…”)
ActiVeReAL
