[Intro] [Vocal Drop] ("O 1 2 1") [Cinematic Build-Up, Spoken] From the heart of the Midlands, where the bricks tell the story… Where industry was born. Where every colour’s got a seat at the table… It’s more than just a place… It’s the Birmingham state of mind… “Let It Go!” [Verse 1] I sit back and picture Digbeth, crowds thick as smoke Back in ’39, every throat spoke the note Six points written down, rights they never owned Working men and women, stood tall, not condoned Peaceful march from Newhall Hill, voices loud and clear Asking for a vote, asking to be near To the halls of power, where the laws were made But the law came down heavy, tried to shut the shade Cops on cobblestones, batons start to swing Protest turned to chaos, the whole street ring Soldiers roll in fast, boots hit the ground hard Arrests in the night, drag ’em to the yard Trials stacked against ’em, judges cold and sharp Labeled them rebels, tore their lives apart But they planted a seed, deep in Brum’s soil Every right we hold now — born from their toil I trace back the years, from iron and steam This city built the world, was the industrial dream Factories roar loud, furnaces glow bright Steel, brass and glass, day turn into night We made everything — tools, guns, chains and wire Fueled the whole empire, fed the global fire Small workshops grew big, masters of the trade Every skill respected, every hand got paid From Jewellery Quarter, every piece handmade To the railways we laid, paths that never fade This is where we rose, where the progress started Every corner’s history, every wall’s been charted Waves came one by one, from every land and shore Irish, Caribbean, South Asian, and more Built the streets together, built the schools and shops Shared the pain and pride, shared the highs and drops Different tongues and colours, woven in the thread One city, one heartbeat, nowhere else like said We don’t just live here — we made it what it is Every face a chapter, every step a quiz No fake shine, no copy, no pretend display What you see is what you get — true in every way [HOOK] [Anthemic, sharp] Birmingham state of mind! Industry strong, roots deep you’ll find! Mix of every culture, one of a kind! Real is rare! — and Brum’s the proof! Built by our hands, from the old to the new roof! Birmingham state of mind! Steel in the soul, heart never blind! World’s workshop legacy, left far behind? NO — we redefine! Real is rare! — yeah, that’s the fact! This city is ours and we never turn back! [Vocal Drop] ("O 1 2 1") [Verse 2] I walk down Broad Street, see the stories in the stone From the old Chartist halls to the towers we’ve grown They tried to silence voices back in ’39 But the fire they lit still burnin’, still mine We fought for representation, fought to have a say Now we lead the conversation, every single day Council chambers open, seats for everyone Justice ain’t perfect, but the work ain’t done We turned factories into hubs, heritage into art Reclaimed every space, put the soul back in the part Digbeth’s now creative, Custard Factory glow Where the goods were packed once — now ideas flow Still make things here, still lead the way Innovation in the blood, never go astray From cars to tech, medicine and design Always one step ahead, always on the line Look round the markets — every flavour on the stall Spices from the East, spices from West wall Curry mile aroma, reggae in the square Sikh gurdwaras stand tall, mosques share the prayer Churches old and proud, synagogues shine bright Every faith and background, standing side by side No division here, no barrier, no wall We mix it up raw — that’s how we stand tall People say we’re rough round edges, say we’re plain and true Yeah we keep it real — that’s the value we grew [Bridge] [Female, Rap Flow] They say other cities shine bright, polished and clean But shine don’t mean nothing if the heart ain’t seen We got scars and stories, victories and falls We stood through it all, answered every call Not built in a day, not built on a lie. Every block we laid — with an honest eye You can copy the look, you can copy the style But you can’t copy the soul, can’t walk our mile Real is rare — and Brum’s the definition Rooted deep in struggle, rooted in addition Of every single person who stepped on this ground Made it home forever, made it renowned. [HOOK] [Anthemic, sharp] Birmingham state of mind — industry strong, roots deep you’ll find! Mix of every culture, one of a kind! Real is rare — and Brum’s the proof! Built by our hands, from the old to the new roof! Birmingham state of mind — steel in the soul, heart never blind! World’s workshop legacy, left far behind? NO — we redefine! Real is rare — yeah, that’s the fact! This city is ours — and we never turn back! [Vocal Drop] ("O 1 2 1") [Outro] From iron works to global stage… Every colour, every creed, every story… This is home… This is Birmingham… Where the Real is Rare! [Vocal Drop] ("O 1 2 1") [END]
