I’ve Been Both [Intro — whispered / close mic] I’m not here for pity. I’m not here for praise. I’m just holding up the mirror. Don’t look away. [Verse 1 — melodic rap / intimate] I’ve been the child with the fear in his chest, Smiling at the world while he prayed for rest. I’ve been the fool with my hands on flame, Blaming everybody while I carried my shame. I’ve been the lover giving more than I had, Calling it devotion when the roots went bad. I’ve been the storm when my pride got loud, Said things from the dark I regret now. I’ve been the silence, I’ve been the scream, I’ve been the man I never wanted to be. I’ve worn masks that I swore were true, Now I’m asking the mirror, What about you? [Pre-Chorus — rising] I am not perfect, I am present. I am not clean, I am confessing. I am not holy, I am not lost. I count my shadows, I count the cost. [Chorus — sung / emotional hook] I’ve been the saint, I’ve been the sinner, I’ve been the wound, I’ve been the blade. I’ve been the one who begged for mercy, And the one who walked away. I’ve been the light, I’ve been the shadow, I’ve been the love, I’ve been the shame. If you see yourself inside me, Don’t look away. Don’t look away. Don’t look away. If you see yourself inside me, Don’t look away. [Verse 2 — deeper / grounded] I’ve been masculine, standing like stone, Trying to carry every war alone. I’ve been feminine, feeling too much, Reading every silence, every change in touch. I’ve been king when I learned to stand, I’ve been tyrant with blood on my hands. I’ve been queen when my heart stayed wise, I’ve been poison when I weaponised eyes. I’ve been the monster I denied for years, Fed by hunger, dressed in fear. I’ve been the healer with a shaking voice, Learning accountability is still a choice. And I don’t need to hide from the parts I knew, I made peace with the split inside me too. Dark and light, same blood, same name, Both hands built me through the flame. [Pre-Chorus — stronger] I am not perfect, I am present. I am not clean, I am confessing. I am not better, I am not worse. I am the blessing, I am the curse. [Chorus — bigger] I’ve been the saint, I’ve been the sinner, I’ve been the wound, I’ve been the blade. I’ve been the one who begged for mercy, And the one who walked away. I’ve been the light, I’ve been the shadow, I’ve been the love, I’ve been the shame. If you see yourself inside me, Don’t look away. Don’t look away. Don’t look away. If you see yourself inside me, Don’t look away. [Bridge — stripped / spoken-sung] Tell me, where did you lie? Where did you love? Where did you take When you did not have enough? Where did you bleed? Where did you blame? Where did you call it survival When it still caused pain? Where did you run? Where did you stay? Where did you lose yourself And call it fate? I’m not above you. I’m not beneath. I’m just a man with the mirror Still shaking in his teeth. [Final Chorus — cathartic / choir layered] I’ve been the saint, I’ve been the sinner, I’ve been the wound, I’ve been the blade. I’ve been the one who begged for mercy, And the one who walked away. I’ve been the light, I’ve been the shadow, I’ve been the love, I’ve been the shame. If you see yourself inside me, Don’t look away. I’ve been the child, I’ve been the warrior, I’ve been the king without a throne. I’ve been the monster and the healer, I’ve been the crowd, I’ve been alone. I’ve been the question, I’ve been the answer, I’ve been the prayer, I’ve been the flame. If you see yourself inside me, Don’t look away. [Outro — whispered] I’m not perfect. I’m present. I’m not clean. I’m confessing. Dark and light. Same blood. Same name.
