“Nothing 2 Prove” RESPONSE

“NOTHING TO PROVE” Written by 12Gauge858 Twelve — 12Gauge858 Music Response to “Loaded Weapon” by SonicTunes808 [INTRO — DEEP CONTROLLED BARITONE, DISTANT ELECTRIC BLUES GUITAR] You said… “Don’t test that quiet.” Yeah. I heard you. But quiet ain’t always fear. Sometimes quiet is years of learning every battle… ain’t asking me to swing. Sometimes a man gets old enough to stop asking— What could I do? And starts asking… What could I lose? [LOW GUITAR GROWL] Listen. [VERSE 1 — CALM, DELIBERATE] Young me would’ve fought you just to make the room believe. Would’ve turned one wrong look into something nobody needed. Pride had a short fuse. Hands didn’t need permission. Back then I called it strength. Truth is… I just didn’t know the difference. Between being feared and being respected. Between winning the moment and losing something precious. See, age’ll teach you what anger never could. Every man you can put down ain’t a man you should. And every threat don’t deserve a response. Sometimes walking away is the hardest kind of strong. [REFRAIN — SOULFUL TENOR, RESTRAINED] I got nothing to prove. Nothing to show. I already met the man I don’t wanna be no more. You can raise your voice. You can make your move. I know what these hands can do. That’s why… I got nothing to prove. [ELECTRIC BLUES GUITAR — SHORT, DIRTY RESPONSE] [VERSE 2 — DEEPER, MORE PERSONAL] Don’t read my calm like it means I’m weak. Peace ain’t something that just happened to me. I earned this. Had to learn when to breathe. Had to learn some victories ain’t worth what they leave. I ain’t peaceful ‘cause I can’t hurt you. I’m peaceful… because I know I could. And that’s exactly why I don’t need to. That’s a lesson the younger me never understood. He thought every disrespect needed blood on the receipt. Older me knows I still gotta live with myself when everybody leaves. I ain’t scared of that darkness. I know exactly where it sleeps. But these days… I don’t wake it just because somebody speaks. [REFRAIN — BIGGER, GUITAR ANSWERING VOCALS] I got nothing to prove. Nothing to show. I already met the man I don’t wanna be no more. Say what you want. Do what you do. I know what these hands can do. That’s why… I got nothing to prove. [INSTRUMENTAL — HEARTBEAT 808 / CELLO ENTERS / GUITAR SLOWLY BUILDS] [BREAKDOWN — TWELVE, CONTROLLED, PRESSURE BUILDING] I’m not trying to deal with the old me. I spent years learning how to disarm him— [TWELVE — SOARING RAW SCREAM, FULL CHEST, RASP BREAKING OPEN] AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! [EVERYTHING COLLAPSES — HEAVY BREATHING / GUITAR FEEDBACK] [YOUNGER TWELVE — DISTORTED VOICES CIRCLING LEFT AND RIGHT] You heard what he said… You really gon’ let that slide? You know what we used to do. You know how easy this could get. [TWELVE — BREATHING SLOWS] Yeah… The voices in my head start talking. Trying to trick me like I’m still that younger me. Telling me— [WHISPERS] Show him. Make him understand. Don’t let nobody play with us. [YOUNGER TWELVE — CLOSER] Come on… You know me. Let me handle it. [OLDER TWELVE — COMPLETELY CALM] Nah. I know you. That’s why… I don’t need you anymore. [LONG PAUSE] The younger me wanted everybody to know what he could do. The older me… just wants peace. [YOUNGER VOICE — FIGHTING THROUGH] But he disrespected— [TWELVE — INTERRUPTS QUIETLY] I heard him. [PAUSE] And I’m still at peace. [ONE HEAVY ELECTRIC GUITAR NOTE] That’s growth. That’s strength. That’s why… I got nothing to prove. [FAITH TURN — MUSIC FALLS NEARLY SILENT] But let me ask you something… Why you so angry? What you carrying inside? Is there something our Lord can do with what you keep trying to fight? ‘Cause maybe this ain’t about me. Maybe something been hurting long before I got here. Maybe you’ve been carrying something you don’t know where to put. Brother… you ain’t gotta prove nothing to me. Get on them knees. Talk to Him sometimes. Tell Him what you won’t tell nobody. Tell Him what hurt. Tell Him who left. Tell Him what happened that made you feel like every disagreement gotta become a war. [GUITAR QUIETLY WEEPS] ‘Cause some battles ain’t won with another man on the ground. Some battles get won when you finally put your own weapons down. Sometimes… the strongest thing a man can do… [3-SECOND DEAD SILENCE] …is bow down. [BRIDGE — TWELVE, NEAR WHISPER] I ain’t judging you. I recognize you. That’s the part you might not understand. That fire in your chest? I’ve carried it. That voice saying you better make ’em respect you? I’ve heard it. That younger man telling you violence will finally make everything quiet? [PAUSE] He lied to me too. [FINAL REFRAIN — SOARING TENOR / CELLO / BLUES GUITAR] I GOT NOTHING TO PROVE! Nothing to show! I already fought that war inside my soul! You can raise your voice! You can make your move! But I don’t have to become who I used to— [VOCAL