Clock In My Chest

Alarm on my phone

but the real one’s in my ribs

Heartbeat tapping out

every debt, every fib

Coffee on the counter

rent due, inbox red

I scroll through a highlight reel

with a knot in my head

Mama text “you good?”

I type “yeah” then erase

How I say I’m overwhelmed

in a three-inch space

Got dreams on layaway

and stress on my desk

Whole world in a race

I just jog, out of breath

Got a clock in my chest

and it tick, tick, tick

Every plan that I planned

either stick or it slip

I’ve been late to myself

tryna chase that check

If I run outta time

who cash my regrets?

Got a clock in my chest

and it tick, tick, tick

Every fear that I fear

got a grip, won’t quit

I’ve been breaking my back

just to buy respect

But the seconds that I spend

I don’t get ‘em back (nah)

Boss say “we a family”

then cut staff by noon

We trade all our daylight

for a dark little room

Friends flex on a story

like they cracked some code

I just hope my little car

make it home down the road

Talk big on the way up

quiet on the way down

Who really gon’ pick you up

when you can’t fake proud?

I’m done tryna fit in

with a mask and a grin

If I don’t live as me

then the hustle don’t win

Got a clock in my chest

and it tick, tick, tick

Every plan that I planned

either stick or it slip

I’ve been late to myself

tryna chase that check

If I run outta time

who cash my regrets?

Got a clock in my chest

and it tick, tick, tick

Every fear that I fear

got a grip, won’t quit

I’ve been breaking my back

just to buy respect

But the life that I want

I can build it yet (yeah)