[Verse 1 – dark, cinematic beat, dramatic rap delivery]
It was fine that I knew one back then,
Should I hit him with a nine or a Mac-10?
Felt the devil in the driver’s seat,
Thought about blood in the back of the street.
He crossed me — not small, not light,
Betrayal don’t whisper, it bites.
Had my pride in a chokehold, pain in my chest,
And a voice in my head sayin’, “You know what’s next.”
[Pre-Chorus – tension builds]
All it takes is one bad night,
One flash, one click, no rewind.
I was close… real close.
But I saw more than most.
[Chorus – haunting but hard, steady drum and minor chords]
Back then, I thought I knew what right was.
But rage ain’t justice, and revenge ain’t love.
I saw the path, dark as sin…
And I almost chose it. Almost let it in.
Back then, I stood at the edge of the flame…
And somehow… I walked away with my name.
[Verse 2 – voice stronger now, telling it clean]
Ain’t sayin’ I forgave, I just let go,
'Cause carryin' that weight don’t let you grow.
You think killin' ends it — it don’t.
It just moves the war into your bones.
I seen tough guys turn to ghosts,
Prayin’ for a shot they can’t reload.
But me? I got out. I got wise.
Left the gun in the glove and lived my life.
[Bridge – spoken like a monologue over a heartbeat beat]
You don’t win by losin’ yourself.
You don’t heal by hurtin’ someone else.
And you don’t become a man
Until you know when to let go of the plan.
[Final Chorus – layered, swelling with tension and relief]
Back then, I was inches from hell.
Heartbeat slow, breathin’ that shell.
Could’ve gone out like a name in chalk…
But I chose silence over the gun talk.
Back then, yeah, I wanted the pain…
But now I walk without chains.
Back then, I almost lost who I am…
But I’m proud to say I never ran.
[Outro – slow fade, guitar riff echoes]
It was fine that I knew one back then.
But I knew enough… not to go there again.
BrandonJamesBand
