Don't Ever Tell Me I Can't

Don't ever tell me I can't

Your voice

Is a speed bump

In a one-way street

I'll stop you

In your tracks

With a raised eyebrow

And a half-smile

Hold my drink

And just watch me

I turn side bets

Into headlines

You call it crazy

I call it sheer will

You'll eat those words

Believe me

Every letter

Every laugh

Nothing's ever gonna stop me

Once I decide it’s done

By the time you start your warning

I'll already be the one who won

You don’t know what I crawled through just to stand here

You don’t know the things I did shaking

Hands trembling

Voice cracking

Still moving

I hear you

All that doubt dressed up as advice

All that fear you gift-wrapped in concern

You can keep it

You wanna see stubborn?

You wanna see crazy faith in a crooked mirror?

Hold my drink

And just watch me

I'll turn your doubt into fuel

I’ll stop you right in your tracks

Every “you can’t” you ever threw at my back

Nothing's ever gonna stop me

Once I decide it’s done

By the time you start your sentence

I'll be standing at the finish line

You’ll eat those words

Every last letter

Chasing them down with the look on your face

When you realize I did it anyway

Remember that moment

Remember that tone

‘Cause when I’m standing on it all

You’ll say

“I should’ve kept my mouth shut”

Nothing’s ever gonna stop me

Once I decide it’s done

Not “maybe”

Not “someday”

Done

I’ve failed out loud

Then tried again

I’ve bled in silence

I’ve sat in parking lots talking myself out of quitting

Then walked in and did it scared

So go ahead

Roll your eyes

Laugh into your cup

Bet against me with everything you’ve got

You see a wall

I see handholds

Routes and doorways

You were too scared to knock

You bring excuses

I bring receipts

Pure sweat and blood

Late nights

Quiet victories

You say

"Be realistic"

I say

"Be ready"

Because every time you bet against me

I get richer in resolve

And you get poorer

In imagination

You'll eat those words

Believe me

Every letter

Every laugh

Nothing's ever gonna stop me

Once I decide it’s done

By the time you start your warning

I'll already be the one who won

Because here’s the truth

You don’t get to write my limits

You don’t get to measure my miles

From your little folding chair on the sidelines

I write my own ending

In ink