Rio Grande To River Road

[Verse 1]
Born in Laredo
Border wind, buzzed phone poles
Night nurse said, “mija”
That’s the last Spanish my soul ever knows
Rio Grande run black
Mama whisper, “this the last time I hold you”
Paperwork, pen scratch
Different arms wrap up and console you
White headlights, long drive
Tiny gold bracelet on my wrist
Brown skin in a big seat
Two worlds meet that don’t exist
Left side of the highway
Somewhere my first name stayed
Right side of the state line
Everything I ever was got traded
[Chorus]
From the Rio Grande to the river road
I was carried like a secret no one told
I don’t know the words to the songs they sang
Just a baby with a borrowed last name
From the Rio Grande to the river road
Different water but the same old ghost
I don’t speak the tongue of where I came
But it burns in the blood that they can’t change (yeah)
[Verse 2]
Grew up by the Muddy
Screen door slam, catfish fry
Sunday on the front pew
Pastor say, “all washed white”
Mama pack my lunch box
Note say, “you are loved, be brave”
Kids ask, “what are you?”
Like I’m something they can grade
I learned “y’all” real quick
Learned to laugh when they’d misplace me
“Where you from, girl?
You look… different in this place, see”
No accent, but my face
Kept tracing maps they didn’t know
I’m a question in the mirror
Every year the river grows
[Chorus]
From the Rio Grande to the river road
I was carried like a secret no one told
I don’t know the words to the songs they sang
Just a baby with a borrowed last name
From the Rio Grande to the river road
Different water but the same old ghost
I don’t speak the tongue of where I came
But it burns in the blood that they can’t change (oh)
[Bridge]
Who gave you away, girl?
Who picked up the pen?
Who folded your future
Like clothes in a bin?
I got love in this house
I got ache in my chest
Two truths in one body
How you choose which one’s best?
[Chorus]
From the Rio Grande to the river road
I was carried like a secret no one told
I don’t know the words to the songs they sang
Just a baby with a borrowed last name
From the Rio Grande to the river road
Different water but the same old ghost
I don’t speak the tongue of where I came
But it beats, it beats where the blood still flows
[Outro]
Laredo in a lullaby
Mississippi in my slang
I’m the bridge they never planned
And I’m saying my own name (yeah)

rap, Moody storytelling rap with female vocals; minor-key guitar loop and dusty drum groove, low 808s hugging the kick. Verses stay close and confessional with filtered vocal and light vinyl crackle; hook widens with airy pads, doubled lead, and subtle chant ad-libs. Second half adds distant vocal chops and thicker bass for a slow-burn climax, then strips back to guitar and voice on the final line., world