[Intro]
Yeah…
This one for every cold night I ain’t get to cry about.
Mama, I love you.
⸻
[Verse 1]
My pops got caged before I ever took a breath,
So I was born into struggle, never learned what “Dad” meant.
Mama raised five alone, that’s war with no army,
Four sisters, one queen — the hood tried to harm me.
She fed us off coupons and prayer, that’s real,
Stackin’ EBT, tryin’ to stretch every meal.
I used to see her eyes fade, never let her knees buckle,
So I learned to move weight just to lighten her struggle.
Had panic in my chest, but the streets don’t care,
If you broke, then you broke — better get it out there.
From the schoolyard to the block, I was duckin’ police,
While anxiety had me grindin’ with my heart on a leash.
⸻
[Hook]
Nickels and nightmares — that’s what I was dealt,
Learned pain early, I ain’t ask for no help.
Mama did her best, but the rent still came,
So I sold a little hope just to mask that shame.
Nickels and nightmares — sleepin’ on the floor,
Woke up to roaches, now I’m dreamin’ of more.
Used to wish for a dad, now I just want peace,
But the trauma still echo every time I breathe.
⸻
[Verse 2]
By thirteen, I was forced to be a man,
Put money in her hand, couldn’t live off a plan.
Mama had bags under her eyes, still smiled,
Never broke in front of us, though we was livin’ wild.
My sisters leaned on me, I ain’t know what to say,
So I put that pain in motion, made a livin’ off yay.
I ain’t glorify the game, I was tryin’ to survive,
And numb the fact my father never taught me how to drive.
Felt rage when I saw kids with they pops at the park,
I was in a trap house where the windows was dark.
I lost sleep, lost years, tryin’ to break that mold,
But when you raised in the fire, it just makes you cold.
⸻
[Hook]
Nickels and nightmares — that’s what I was dealt,
Learned pain early, I ain’t ask for no help.
Mama did her best, but the rent still came,
So I sold a little hope just to mask that shame.
Nickels and nightmares — sleepin’ on the floor,
Woke up to roaches, now I’m dreamin’ of more.
Used to wish for a dad, now I just want peace,
But the trauma still echo every time I breathe.
⸻
[Outro]
This ain’t for the clout, this for the kids in my shoes,
No father, no guidance, just pain and bad news.
But I ain’t fold, I evolved through the dirt and the stress,
Nickels and nightmares — now I’m chasin’ success.
Beanie
