Stronger Than That

[Verse 1]
Last year hit like a cheap shot
Phone full of bad news, screen stayed hot
Eyes on the ceiling, couldn’t see past fear
Sleeping in my hoodie, dreams in my ear
Bills on the table, shame in a stack
Friends disappeared, had to carry my back
Cried in the car so the kids never knew
Whispered, “Hold on,” with a busted view
[Chorus]
I been down, but I came back swinging
Heart still bruised, but it’s steady, it’s singing
You can’t break what already snapped
I bent, I cracked
But I’m stronger than that
Every scar on my skin, I earned it
Every closed door, yeah, I turned it
Into one more map, one more path
I bent, I cracked
But I’m stronger than that (yeah)
[Verse 2]
Turned that pain to a daily drill
Talked to the mirror like, “Girl, be still”
Jogged round blocks just to outrun doubt
Breath on fire, but I worked it out
Learned to say “no” like a battle cry
Stopped letting small minds rent space in my sky
Moved like a storm with a quiet plan
Light in my chest and a pen in my hand (uh)
[Chorus]
I been down, but I came back swinging
Heart still bruised, but it’s steady, it’s singing
You can’t break what already snapped
I bent, I cracked
But I’m stronger than that
Every scar on my skin, I earned it
Every closed door, yeah, I turned it
Into one more map, one more path
I bent, I cracked
But I’m stronger than that (stronger, stronger)
[Bridge]
This time when it rains, I dance in it (dance)
Look at my hands, see faith in ’em (yeah)
If I fall again, I’ll rise, that’s facts
I bend, I crack
But I’m stronger than that (uh, say it)
[Chorus]
I been down, but I came back swinging
Heart still bruised, but it’s steady, it’s singing
You can’t break what already snapped
I bent, I cracked
But I’m stronger than that
Every scar on my skin, I earned it
Every closed door, yeah, I turned it
Into one more map, one more path
I bent, I cracked
But I’m stronger than that (yeah)
I’m stronger than that (hey)
I’m stronger than that

rap, Moody piano over tough boom-bap drums, female vocals/rap; verses clipped and confident with tight rhyme pockets, hook opens wider with sung-rap melody and stacked harmonies, subtle bass swells and filtered vocal chops lift the chorus, last hook adds ad-libs and extra percussion for a triumphant close