[Instrumental Intro] [Verse 1] The radiator knocked in a fourth-floor room Rain tapped time on the fire escape You said, “Don’t let that winter choose you” I kept your words in my coat all day Two trains late, one glove gone Coffee gone cold by the courthouse steps I made a promise I couldn’t say loud Then paid it back with the miles I kept [Pre-Chorus] When the stairwell swallowed the sound When my hands shook holding the ground You looked me dead in the face Said, “You still have a choice to make” [Chorus] I’m still here, with the whole weight on my chest Still move forward, still give nothing less Let the hard year come, let it test what I know I’ve got a long way left, but I’m ready to go You saw the worst and you stayed by my side No clean way through, no place left to hide If we make it out, let the whole world see What you kept alive in me [Verse 2] Corner store clerk knew the scrape on my hand Same blue awning, same busted sign I counted rent in a paper cup And swallowed every “you’ll be fine” You brought two oranges, split one in half Set the peel by the sink in a curl Said, “Small things matter when the days run thin” That plain little truth held up my world [Rap Verse] I learned each landing by the crack in the tile Learned who’d stay when the wait got wild No speeches, just a key on the table at dawn And your coat on my back when the heat was gone I kept my word when the room got tight Kept my jaw set through another long night You never asked me to act like I’m tough You said, “Come home. You’ve done enough.” So I carried that line through the blocks and the doubt Till the door swung wide and the cold stayed out [Pre-Chorus] When the stairwell swallowed the sound When my hands shook holding the ground You looked me dead in the face Said, “You still have a choice to make” [Chorus] I’m still here, with the whole weight on my chest Still move forward, still give nothing less Let the hard year come, let it test what I know I’ve got a long way left, but I’m ready to go You saw the worst and you stayed by my side No clean way through, no place left to hide If we make it out, let the whole world see What you kept alive in me [Rap Chorus] We stayed when the easy way called Kept one light on through it all Every locked door, every last train gone We held our place till the morning came on No grand words, just a hand in the rain Two warm cups and a ride back again Say it plain, let the whole block hear: We’re still here, we’re still here [Bridge] If I lose my footing, call me by my name Tell me all the miles don’t make me hard I’ll meet you where the avenue bends With the grocery bag and the old house key [Final Chorus] I’m still here, with the whole weight on my chest Still move forward, still give nothing less Let the hard year come, let it test what I know I’ve got a long way left, but I’m ready to go You saw the worst and you stayed by my side No clean way through, no place left to hide If we make it out, let the whole world see What you kept alive in me [Outro] The radiator knocks; the rain lets up Two oranges on the table, one chipped cup You turn the key and leave the door wide I come in carrying my life inside
