Intro
“Smooth Lift” before Verse
Lead (soft, close mic; laidback):
I’m good… I’m straight… don’t test me (soft)
I’m trying stay holy, but the old me still messy (choir: low “oooh” bed)
If you poke that bear, it gon’ show (choir rises 1 level)
If you shake that tree, something fall for sure (choir rises again; FULL on “sure,” then DROP)
Choir cue: Bar 1 airy / Bar 2 add harmony / Bar 3 add higher harmony / Bar 4 full stack → hard cut into verse.
Verse (16) — Upbeat / hard-hitting
You better get with it or get gone, I refuse to let your doubt anchor in my bones (nah)
I’m too far from the mud to let a hater turn my triumph into stones (facts)
Don’t let me let my dogs loose, I will turn your hood to Saints Row (Saints Row)
You see us when we marching in, we got ’em like “them saints go!” (saints go)
I came up out the mud but I’m cleaner than Windex (clean)
Stepping out off the porch turning heads, we make ’em break they necks (whoa)
I don’t do halfway, I do full tilt, full send (send)
Second-line footwork with a trap kick in the end (stomp)
(CHOIR BUILD STARTS HERE — low, sustained “ahh/oooh” under bars 9–16)
Choir in the back like “amen” on the drop (amen)
New Orleans talk—“where ya at?”—I’m right on the block (where ya at?)
They love you when you quiet, hate you when you glow (glow)
So I smile through it—let the drums say “no” (nope)
If it’s up, it’s up, I’m marching with the mission (march)
And I don’t need no crown—just clear lane, clear vision (vision)
I’m trying to stay calm, stay clean, stay free (free)
But if one more push me—that switch flip with ease (switch)
Chorus (12) — BIG lead vocal + FULL choir power (chest punch)
Lead (big, confident; not “prayer,” more anthem):
I’m good… I’m straight… don’t test me (I’m straight)
I’m trying stay holy, but the old me still messy (still messy)
If you poke that bear, it gon’ show (gon’ show)
If you shake that tree, something fall for sure (for sure)
I been building my peace like a house with bricks (bricks)
Don’t run up on the porch and try to pull my switch (my switch)
Choir swell behind me—feel it in your ribs (AMEN — full stack)
Organ talk heavy while the bottom end hit (HOLD UP)
I breathe… I breathe… I breathe… (breathe — choir sustains)
But don’t lean on me like that’s weak (don’t)
I’m love, I’m light, I’m beast (BEAST — choir hits hard)
One more push and it flip that easy (easy — choir rings out)
Choir cue (chorus): FULL harmonies from bar 1, increasing intensity at bars 7, 11, 12.
Organ cue:
Verse: subtle pad under bars 9–16
Chorus: organ becomes a lead layer (bigger, louder, more movement)