TRACK 14— “MIRROR TALK”
[Intro – 0:00–0:28]
I been runnin’ from myself like I’m scared of what I’ll find
Every time I look inside, it’s a war inside my mind
I ain’t proud of every chapter, but they’re written in my skin
And the mirror never lies, it just waits for me to look again
[Verse 1 – 0:28–2:25]
Yeah… I see that kid again, sittin’ quiet in his room
Tryna act like he ain’t hurtin’, but he’s breakin’ in the gloom
He learned early not to speak, learned emotions weren’t allowed
Learned to swallow every tear so he could make his family proud
He watched people fall apart, watched addiction take control
Watched the ones he loved the most disappear without a soul
And he promised he’d be different, but the pain was in his blood
So he grew up buildin’ walls just to hold back all the flood
And I’m lookin’ at that kid now like, “Man, I’m sorry that was you”
Sorry no one ever told you that your heart deserved the truth
Sorry you had to raise yourself while pretendin’ you were fine
Sorry you carried all that weight that never should’ve been your crime
Then life hit harder — lost my cousin, lost my friend
Still replay that night I didn’t go, wonderin’ if it’d change the end
That guilt became a shadow I been draggin’ through the years
And the mirror shows the pain behind the anger and the tears
Now I’m raisin’ my own kids, tryna give ’em what I missed
Tryna break the generational curses with every hug and every kiss
But I’m scared they’ll see the damage, scared they’ll feel the broken parts
Scared they’ll think I’m distant when I’m just protectin’ my own heart
[Hook – 2:25–3:05]
So I talk to my reflection like it’s someone I betrayed
Tell him “I’m still learnin’ how to heal from all the things I never say”
I ain’t runnin’ anymore, I ain’t hidin’ from the truth
If I’m ever gonna change, then it’s gotta start with you
[Verse 2 – 3:05–4:55]
Look… I’m tired of the guilt, tired of the shame
Tired of feelin’ like addiction’s still tattooed inside my brain
Tired of wonderin’ if my kids will ever know the man I am
Not the one who fell apart — the one who fought to take a stand
I remember every moment I was
I lock the door behind me, and the mirror starts to grin,
Like it’s happy that I’m back so it can peel away my skin.
Says, “You ready for the truth or you gon’ lie to me again?
‘Cause every time you say you’re changing, you just circle back to sin.”
I feel my stomach twisting, but he laughs like it’s a joke,
“Look at you — a walking trauma story wrapped in empty hope.
You keep preaching about healing, but you’re drowning in the smoke,
And you blame your broken childhood for the man you never broke.”
I snap, “You don’t know nothing,” he said, “Boy, I know it all.
I was there when you were hiding every time you felt too small.
I was there when you were praying God would catch you when you fall,
But you’d rather keep your demons than admit you built the wall.”
He leans in closer, whispering, “You love playing the vic