[Intro – low, almost whispered]
They taught me honor before they taught me mercy.
That’s how I knew it was a lie.
[Verse 1 – restrained, cold rap]
I watched the banners wave while the helpless bled
Clean hands shook prayers over piles of dead
They said “hold your ground, don’t dirty your name”
But a spotless soul doesn’t stop the flame
So I stepped past the line they wouldn’t cross
Learned real fast what justice costs
Every choice cut deeper than steel
Every night reminds me what I couldn’t heal
I don’t stand proud — I stand awake
Counting the lives I couldn’t save
If sin’s the weight I need to bear
Then carve it in — I’ll stay right here
[Chorus 1 – slow, heavy rock]
I LAID DOWN HONOR TO DO WHAT’S RIGHT
Let it rot with the lies they hide
I’LL CARRY THIS — I WON’T DENY
Somebody had to stain their hands
CALL ME LOST — CALL ME DAMNED
I never said I’d understand
I CHOSE THE FIGHT
When honor failed the night
[Verse 2 – darker, sharper delivery]
Chains in my grip, not for show or pride
Just proof I won’t look away this time
If there’s a god, he turned his face
So I filled the gap with rage and faith
They say restraint makes men divine
But hesitation just buys time
For monsters dressed in lawful skin
I broke the code to break them in
No songs will praise the things I’ve done
No clean ending when the war is won
But if tomorrow gets to breathe
Then let today remember me
[Chorus 2 – louder, defiant undercurrent]
I LAID DOWN HONOR — I KEPT THE SCAR
You don’t save the world from where you are
LET ‘EM PRAY — I’LL STAND BELOW
Where the blood runs thick and truths are cold
IF I’M THE COST — THEN PAY IT IN FULL
I won’t look away — I never could
i CHOSE THE FIGHT
And I’d do it twice
[Bridge – broken, half-spoken]
I don’t ask forgiveness.
I don’t expect peace.
I just refuse…
To let the innocent bleed.
[Verse 3 – quiet resolve]
I don’t dream of redemption anymore
Just fewer graves than the night before
If this path ends alone in flame
I’ll walk it without saying my name
History can paint me wrong
I won’t correct it — I’ll move on
Because right and clean were never the same
And I chose truth over a hollow name
[Chorus 3 – final, tragic resolve]
I LAID DOWN HONOR TO DO WHAT’S RIGHT
Even if it costs me my life
NO HALO — NO CROWN — NO GRACE
Just a man who wouldn’t turn away
REMEMBER ME OR LET ME FADE
I don’t need saving — I made my way
I CHOSE THE FIGHT
So you wouldn’t have to.
[Outro – quiet / fading]
No banners follow where I’m going now.
No oaths… no witnesses.
Just footsteps fading into ash,
A name I don’t answer anymore.
If honor was light,
I walked out of it willingly.
Not because I hated it—
But because it wouldn’t walk with me.
So let the songs end here.
Let the fire cool.
I’ll carry what they couldn’t…
And keep walking.
ShadowSing
