I wake up wearing the same brave grin
Paint it on thick, let the daylight in
They say “you’re golden, you’re built to win”
If they only knew the storm within
Thirty-two and I feel cut short
Like I missed my train at every port
Every “almost” stuck in my throat
Every dream still trying to stay afloat
They see jokes and a loud good time
I see pressure under the shine
I shake hands, say “yeah I’m fine”
Then wrestle thoughts in the back of my mind
Two masks hanging side by side
One shows strength, one what I hide
One says “push,” one says “tired”
Both still walking through the fire
Pre-Chorus
Mirror talks and it hits me straight
“Not where you planned — but you’re not too late”
I breathe deep, reset the weight
Still in the ring — so I regulate
Chorus
I’m the man of two masks, pulling both sides tight
One for the crowd and one for the fight
Waves keep crashing but I hold my line
Step by step and I’m doing fine
Yeah it’s heavy — but I push back strong
Feet still moving when the road feels long
If I can’t be perfect, I’ll be unbroken —
Still standing here — and that’s my token
They said “destined,” I heard it loud
Now I’m standing outside that crowd
Every safe turn, every bowed head
Still built the road that I now tread
Pressure hums like a live wire line
Self-doubt talks in a voice like mine
Says “you’re late, you’re behind in time”
I answer back — “I’m still in the climb”
I wear the smile like armor plate
Crack a joke, still show up late
Nobody sees the pressure weight
Nobody hears the inner debate
Ocean rising behind my ribs
But I’m learning how to swim in it
Strong strokes written in discipline
Forward motion — inch by inch
Pre-Chorus
Talk to myself like a cornered friend
“Hold your ground — you can still ascend
Bend — don’t break — adjust and mend
Stand back up — begin again”
Chorus
I’m the man of two masks, working both sides true
One for the world and the inner view
Storm gets loud but I move right through
One more step is what I do
Yeah it’s heavy — but I answer back
Breath by breath — I stay on track
No rewrite needed — this is the page
So I bring my strength to the stage
Bridge (explosive)
Listen —
You’re not finished
You’re not done
Not behind — you’re still in the run
Regret is weight — but it builds strong legs
Carry it forward — rewrite the threads
Stand — adjust — continue — build
Forward motion is power and will
Final Chorus
I’m the man of two masks — and I choose the one
That keeps moving forward when the day is done
I may not be all they said I’d become
But I’m still right here — and I still outrun
Storm in my lungs, fire in my jaw
I rise each time that I hit the floor
No crown — no fame — no perfect score —
Just one more day — and I build once more
Still here.
Still moving.
Still fighting.
