Ring of Glass

[Verse 1]
Woke up in a war I never chose
Body throwing punches in my ribs and clothes
Calendar red but the lines ain’t straight
Whole future on hold on a paper plate
Doctor room, flicker lights in my face
“Maybe stress,” they say, then they change the case
Tiny scars on my skin like a map
I’m the champ in a ring that keeps hitting back
[Pre-Chorus]
I’m tired of sitting in silence
Calling my strength “compliance”
I’m tired of saying “I’m fine”
When my bones blue-screen in my spine (yeah)
[Chorus]
So I smile through the pain like it’s nothing (nothing)
Lip gloss, high waist, still bleeding in public
Every step, every breath, it’s a cage match
Body in the corner but I won’t crack
I’m in the ring with this flesh made of glass
Taking every hit, still I laugh
If my dreams don’t grow in this frame
I’ll still be here, saying my name
[Verse 2 – Rap]
Yeah
Thought I lost me, stuck in that waiting room chair
Scrolling through my thoughts, everything’s everywhere
Mind doing laps, heart tied in a knot
Whole day gone, didn’t move from the spot
They say “focus,” like I got a switch to flip
Like I ain’t bobbing, weaving just to hold my grip
Brain’s throwing jabs, gut throwing hooks
Fighting every symptom while they skim my book
Got a pill box looking like a jewelry tray
Got a “maybe baby” box tucked away
Got a checklist long as a CVS tape
And a little bit of hope I refuse to erase
[Pre-Chorus]
I’m tired of making it pretty
Watering down my story
Tired of “could be worse” lines
When I’m ducking blows from my mind (woah)
[Chorus]
So I smile through the pain like it’s nothing (nothing)
Lip gloss, high waist, still bleeding in public
Every step, every breath, it’s a cage match
Body in the corner but I won’t crack
I’m in the ring with this flesh made of glass
Taking every hit, still I laugh
If my dreams don’t grow in this frame
I’ll still be here, saying my name
[Bridge – R&B / Rap Call & Response]
[R&B]
You see the highlight, don’t see the haze
You see my eyeliner, not the maze
You see the selfie, not the scans
You see the gold, not shaking hands (yeah)
[Rap]
You see the playlist, not the panic
See the jokes, not the mental traffic
See me winning, think I never miss
You don’t see me shadowbox all of this
[R&B]
I’m not broken, I’m in process (process)
Not a failure, just complex (complex)
If my body keeps throwing stones at my plans
I’ll build a throne where I stand (hey)
[Chorus]
I’ll smile through the pain, not to fake it, to claim it
Every bruise, every tear, I can name it
Every step, every breath, it’s a cage match
Body in the corner but I won’t crack
I’m in the ring, yeah, my flesh made of glass
Taking every hit, still I laugh
If my dreams don’t bloom in this frame
I’ll still be here, singing my name (my name)
[Outro]
Round after round, I’m lasting
Heart on the ropes, still dancing
If this is the life I own
I’ll wear this war like a crown of chrome

rap, Moody Rap/R&B duet with female lead and featured rapper; airy keys and deep, head-nod groove, warm bass, sparse guitar flickers. Verses intimate and close-mic, hook opens into stacked harmonies and a soaring topline. Occasional filtered drums in pre-chorus, last chorus adds ad-libs and subtle choir pads for a cathartic lift., r&b