I survived

Mama vanished, left us in the dark 3 boys, one dad, tryna leave a mark Late nights, cold fights, tryna survive Jumpin’ school to school, just tryna stay alive Home school, private, public—never fit Labeled broken kids, they didn’t see the shit System stepped in, ripped us from the home Cold walls, strange beds, nowhere to roam Dad kept fightin’, never let go That song on the radio, hit me like a blow “Arms wide open,” still echo in the halls But now im goin through child hood withdraws (Violin slow solo) Someone showed up, said it’d be alright Blessing in disguise? Nah, hell, no fight Yellin’ all night, fists fly, bottles break Fear in my chest, every step I take Hands on throats, slammed into walls Kicks to the ribs, I remember it all A man lost control, lost his mind Jail doors clanged, left my childhood behind Brother went down, years in a cage I’m growin’ up fast, fightin’ through the rage Pain stacked high, mountains too steep But I’m still breathin’, still tryin’ to keep (Violin slow solo) Then she walked in, saw the cracks in my frame Didn’t try to fix me, didn’t play the blame Peace ain’t loud, it’s a survival art Taught me to sit still with the fire in my heart She knows my demons, knows the rage inside Even when my thoughts feel like they’ll collide She don’t get the war that’s inside my head But she loves me anyway, lays next to me in bed Past came back, false hope in my chest No goodbye, just gone—fuck all the rest Pulled me back from the edge, stopped the fall Reminded me I survived it all (Violin slow solo) Lost family early, felt the earth shake Lost another who showed me how to wake Coffee in the mornin’, clocks tickin’ slow Nights at his house, the only home I know Taught me patience, taught me to breathe Silence can heal the wounds too deep to leave Moments carved deep in my bones That was the safest place I’ve ever known Brothers don’t talk, scared it’s done Time erases what we never won Lost a friend when I chose love first Funny