👟 Keep Your Shoes On 👟

[Perfect audio quality, professional studio recording] [Intro – Lo-Fi filtered, close-mic, detached tone] He said peace was the path. Said fists were failure. But peace was the sermon— And fists were the punctuation. [Verse 1 – Age 8 | Clean Guitar, Twitchy Jazz Groove] He dragged me by my hair, shocked friends, whatched what he did. Counsels peace to the neighbors, served rage to his kid. Mom said “too far,” didn't hold her ground. Silence is what she paid, to keep peace around. Left alone crying, on the floor in the end, ‘no more play that day, couldn't face my friends. [Pre-Chorus 1 – Whispered, Spoken Under Bass Pulse] He doesn’t fight. He preaches. He doesn’t win. He teaches. [Chorus 1 – Loud, Layered, Syncopated Downbeats] Keep your shoes on—don’t fall down! Keep your breath in, don’t make a sound! He speaks of peace like its a holy name, Bloody knuckled hands shake all the same. Can’t run faster? He already knew. The point was... He needed me to know too. [Verse 2 – Age 12 | Off-Kilter Rhythm, Voice Tight and Controlled] Can’t recall what I did, just how it felt. The buckle’s rhythm, the grace he dealt. Held back my tears with stubborn stillness, My peace crumbled to fury and mental illness. “You will cry,” his tightened jaw sang. Peace left welts with every swing. [Bridge 1 – Spoken, Distant Echo / Sparse Drums] Tiquando for “inner stability” Heavy bag shared some of his hostility. Metal chains'n' fists sang a duet of anger, Blood spots left where his peace met leather. When his knuckles broke, We both got to heal. [Pre-Chorus 2 – Spoken Into Scream] He’d race me barefoot through the yard, Said, you can’t win—ever! Each step proof he was strong. Each gasp proof I was still small. [Chorus 2 – Full Band, Aggressive] Keep your shoes on—don’t back down! Keep your head up—don’t make a sound! "Compassion's a sign of nobility.", Couldn't find mercy when beating me. Teaches “a fight hurts everyone in it”. Never fought back, but my pain was legit. [Verse 3 – Age 14 | Speed-Rap Style, Breathless Delivery] Grandma yelled, but not at me. Never get between dad and TV! Silent in socks, a kick to the ribs. Towards the door, don't wait for, I ad-lib. and run. He's on my ass, but not in shoes, Think "don't look back!", but then I do, He slips in grass and hits the ground. I feel relieved, then I go down. Ignore the pain, get off the street, He's still dazed, I'm on my feet and gone! I'm bleeding from my face to my knees... but I'm free. No sermon now, no warning cry. Just blood, deep breaths, and open sky. [Bridge 2 – Floating Guitar, Distant Vocals] He said be kind, live gentlely. Used pain to control me. He said love is kind. And only gave me cruelty. I said nothing. I ran. [Final Chorus – Wall of Sound, Scream + Melody] Keep your shoes on—don’t slow down! Keep your heart under broken ground! He prayed for balance, I prayed for speed. He worshipped power, I worshipped need. He called it peace— But I call it run. And every step away means I’ve already won. [Outro – Whispered, Minimal Instrumentation] I embraced the virtues he taught me. But I'll never own his hypocrisy... I am a man of peace! He trained his fists. I trained my feet.