[Intro]
Gold on my skin
Dust on my feet
History watching
When I breathe, I speak (yeah)
[Verse 1]
Walk in the room like a prophecy
Eyes lined sharp like a dynasty
Cartouche heart, I been hard to read
Still I bleed, still I lead, still I plant the seed (uh)
Scrolling my fate on a cracked phone screen
Mama worked late so a girl learned scheme
Turnin’ my pain into black eyeliner
Every little scar made the crown sit higher (sit higher)
[Chorus]
Crown like Cleopatra on a Monday night
Still pay bills, still miss my flight
Pray for love, then I suit up, fight
I’m a queen in the queue, under fluorescent light (yeah, yeah)
Crown like Cleopatra, I don’t need a throne
Built my palace in a one-room home
I break, I bend, but I don’t let go
All this sacrifice, but I still glow (I still glow)
[Verse 2]
Doumbek heart in my ribcage, knock
Anklet swing when the streetlight stop
Henna on my hand like a secret map
Every little swirl say “girl don’t crack” (don’t crack)
Clock-in shift then the clock runs me
Still write bars on the bus, low-key
Men want a goddess that can cook and heal
But choke when they face what a goddess feel (uh)
[Chorus]
Crown like Cleopatra on a Monday night
Still pay bills, still miss my flight
Pray for love, then I suit up, fight
I’m a queen in the queue, under fluorescent light (hey)
Crown like Cleopatra, I don’t need a throne
Built my palace in a one-room home
I break, I bend, but I don’t let go
All this sacrifice, but I still glow (I still glow, yeah)
[Bridge]
Who holds up the sky when it’s fallin’? (who?)
Who quiets the storm when he’s talkin’? (shh)
Who hides her hurt in a flawless wing
Then walks out tired, still forced to sing (to sing)
If I love you, I’ll die for you twice
Turn my day into grain for your rice
But I won’t trade my name for your pride
I’m Cleopatra in the carpool line (skrrt)
[Chorus]
Crown like Cleopatra on a Monday night
Still pay bills, still miss my flight
Pray for love, then I suit up, fight
I’m a queen in the queue, under fluorescent light (oh)
Crown like Cleopatra, writing in the sand
Every “no” turns to “yes I am”
I break, I bend, but I don’t let go
All this sacrifice, but I still glow (I still glow)
[Outro]
Kohl-eyed, battle tired
Still I rise, still I rise (yeah)
Past life, present fire
Same queen, different time