Always about Me

Verse 1

Small town where they know your past, not your plans,

They see the scars on my life but don’t shake my hand

House packed tight, roommates arguing over bills,

Two kids asleep while I’m fighting with my will

They say I should be further, like they ran my race,

But they don’t feel the pressure when I look in my baby’s face

Girlfriend holding faith while I’m holding doubt,

Trying not to break down every time the noise get loud

I’m working double shifts, still feel like I’m behind,

Dreams on layaway, patience running out of time

They judge from the couch, I’m in the game getting bruised,

Trying to make the right moves with the wrong tools

Hook

They don’t see the nights that I stayed awake,

Or the weight on my chest when the fridge half empty

Everybody got advice but it ain’t their fate,

I’m just tryna build a life where my kids feel safe

Yeah, they talk like they know me, but they don’t know pain,

Don’t know sacrifice, don’t know praying in the rain

I ain’t asking for a crown or a trophy shelf,

Just respect for a man trying to be better than himself

Verse 2

Room full of opinions, none paying rent,

Everybody quick to judge where the money went

They say “man up” like I ain’t already trying,

Like I don’t swallow pride every time I’m denying

I measure success by the laughs in my house,

Even when the bank account screaming “you out”

I been broke, I been tired, I been questioning God,

Still showing up daily ‘cause quitting is fraud

My kids watching closely, learning how to cope,

I don’t wanna teach ‘em fear, I wanna teach ‘em hope

So I bite my tongue when the rumors spread,

Let growth talk louder than the words they said

Hook

They don’t see the nights that I stayed awake,

Or the weight on my chest when the fridge half empty

Everybody got advice but it ain’t their fate,

I’m just tryna build a life where my kids feel safe

Yeah, they talk like they know me, but they don’t know pain,

Don’t know sacrifice, don’t know praying in the rain

I ain’t asking for a crown or a trophy shelf,

Just respect for a man trying to be better than himself

Bridge (Spoken / Cole-style reflection)

Sometimes I wonder if I’m doing enough…

Then my son smile, my daughter laugh,

And I remember—

Progress don’t always sound like applause.

Verse 3

One day this struggle gon’ read like a chapter,

Pain turn purpose, pressure make masters

They’ll say “he made it,” won’t mention the cost,

Won’t mention the nights when I felt damn lost

I’m still learning grace, still learning patience,

Still learning how to lead without losing my sanity

I ain’t perfect, I’m present, and that’s my claim,

Trying to leave more love than I leave my name

Outro

Small town talk fade, love stay loud,

I’m building something solid even if it’s slow right now

For my kids, for my girl, for the man in the mirror—

I’m trying… and that gotta count for something.