Heart on my Sleeve

Twenty-four, feel old, but the world says I’m young

Bills hit the bank and the money’s already gone

Smile at work, “you good?” yeah I nod and I front

But my head won’t shut up when the night finally comes

Adopted heart, split home, learned to carry my own

Love came late but it feels like I finally belong

Got a girl, got a dream, got a ring in my thoughts

Got fear in the mirror sayin’ “what if you’re not?”

Grandma’s voice in my head, wish I listened back then

Life was loud, missed the signs, still replay it again

I’m blessed but I’m stressed, that’s the part I can’t shake

Feel guilty for wanting more when I already ate

I pray, then I fall, then I pray once again

Tryna walk like a man while I’m fightin’ my head

They say “you’re doin’ great,” but I don’t see the proof

‘Cause I’m hardest on me when I’m tellin’ the truth

I wear my heart on my sleeve, yeah it cuts when I bleed

But it’s proof that I feel, proof that I’m still me

Some nights I’m strong, some nights I can’t breathe

But I’m here, I’m alive, put my fear in the backseat

I been lost, I been low, I been down on my knees

Still I get back up, yeah I fight, I repeat

If I fall seven times, I get up eight at least

Heart on my sleeve — that’s the price of being me

Salary nice on paper, still livin’ check to check

They say “budget better,” yeah I know, I’m a mess

Young AGM, they don’t take me serious

Age on my badge got ‘em actin’ delirious

Called “Billy B” when I snap, yeah I laugh through the pain

Crack jokes, ease tension, keep sane in the rain

I’m the calm in the storm, but the storm’s in my chest

Tryna lead, tryna love, tryna give my best

Church songs on repeat, try to quiet the noise

Tryna choose who I am over who I was destroyed

Temptation knockin’ late, fear callin’ my phone

But I’m learnin’ how to sit with myself alone

I got faith, got doubt, both live in my skin

I don’t quit, I don’t run, even when I give in

I’m not broken, I’m bendin’, still holdin’ my frame

I’m not healed yet, but I’m not the same

I wear my heart on my sleeve, yeah it cuts when I bleed

But it’s proof that I feel, proof that I’m still me

Some nights I’m strong, some nights I can’t breathe

But I’m here, I’m alive, put my fear in the backseat

I been lost, I been low, I been down on my knees

Still I get back up, yeah I fight, I repeat

If I fall seven times, I get up eight at least

Heart on my sleeve — that’s the price of being me

Fear tried to crown itself king of my mind

Said “you peaked,” said “you’re runnin’ outta time”

But I looked in the mirror, saw the fire still there

Said “you don’t get the wheel, you can ride if you dare”

I’m not perfect, I’m present, I’m learnin’ the pace

I don’t need to be rich just to earn my place

If tomorrow gets heavy, I’ll carry it slow

One prayer, one breath, one step, then I go

I wear my heart on my sleeve, yeah it scares me to death

But I’d rather feel pain than feel nothin’ at all

I been tested by nights where I questioned my breath

But I’m still standin’ here, I ain’t ready to fall.