ZIP CODE [Chorus — open vowels; stretch the endings] I love this town; I need to leave. These streets got way too tight to breathe. Still got our zip code on my sleeve. Why’s that so fucking hard to see? Don’t make me feel I can’t come home. Same cracked screen when you hit my phone. I’m tryna build shit of my own. Can’t chase my life and stay half-grown. [Verse 1 — conversational; brief rests at punctuation] Tha moving box won’t close up right. My old cleats catch tha kitchen light. Can’t throw out every Friday night. We lost each game; I kept tha pride. Ma taped some gas cash to my keys. Said, “Call when you stop, would you please?” I joked, “You tryna track my speed?” She laughed, then wouldn’t look at me. My boy said, “Guess you made it out.” Like I had crossed his whole life out. We used to plan this on his couch. He stayed inside; I drove around. Passed where we worked that late-night shift. Still got his lighter in my whip. He missed his break to hear my shit. Now won’t press play when I send clips. [Chorus — keep the melody steady] I love this town; I need to leave. These streets got way too tight to breathe. Still got our zip code on my sleeve. Why’s that so fucking hard to see? Don’t make me feel I can’t come home. Same cracked screen when you hit my phone. I’m tryna build shit of my own. Can’t chase my life and stay half-grown. [Verse 2 — same pocket; let the details land] My new place got no couch, just crates. I eat stood up off paper plates. Your shift ends late; I stay awake. You text “All good” three nights too late. First show, I searched tha crowd for you. Saved you a spot beside tha booth. A stranger sang tha words you knew. I wished that voice belonged to you. Called Ma outside, behind tha spot. She asked me if I’d ate or not. She talked about tha dog a lot. I let her talk; that’s all I want. Next day, your name lit up my screen. “I heard tha song. You kept tha cleats?” I sent tha pic, still stained with green. You wrote, “Come home and play next week.” [Final chorus — full delivery; leave space between lines] I love this town; I need to leave. These streets got way too tight to breathe. Still got our zip code on my sleeve. Why’s that so fucking hard to see? Don’t make me feel I can’t come home. Same cracked screen when you hit my phone. I’m tryna build shit of my own. Can’t chase my life and stay half-grown.
