[Intro] [Verse 1] I’m the stenographer of swagger, I type in time Got a ribbon full of rumors and a headline rhyme They say “name on the marquee,” I say “name on the sheet” ‘Cause the truth don’t dance—until it finds a beat Now, Combs through the story with a polished grin But the room keeps score when the questions begin Flashy suits, big talk, “who, me?” (oh please) Everybody’s holy till you hit “proceedings” [Pre-Chorus] (hold it!) Brass on the edge, toe on the line Raise that hand—swear you won’t rewrite time Let the record spin, let the record breathe One name, two syllables—now watch me weave [Chorus] Diddy—did he? (did he!) Did she? (did she!) Did we learn a thing when the gavel hit the beat? Diddy—did he? (did he!) Did she? (did she!) Objection to the fiction—let the facts take a seat (Say it!) Diddy—did he? (did he!) Did she? (did she!) No halo in the paperwork, no crown in the receipt Diddy—did he? (did he!) Did she? (did she!) Let the record show: you don’t outrun the truth on your feet [Verse 2] I seen a hundred pretty stories get brittle at the seams When the applause fades out, you can hear the small screams Power loves a mirror, fame loves a fog But a courtroom loves a question like a hound loves a log “Your honor, I object!”—to the spin, to the sheen To the “I was just vibing” and the “you know what I mean” If you’re paid in attention, you spend it too free But consequences got interest, and they bill you in “see” [Pre-Chorus] (hold it!) Bass walk steady, don’t rush the line Truth don’t need glitter, it just needs time Let the horns talk sharp, let the papers breathe One name, two syllables—now watch me weave [Chorus] Diddy—did he? (did he!) Did she? (did she!) Did we learn a thing when the gavel hit the beat? Diddy—did he? (did he!) Did she? (did she!) Objection to the fiction—let the facts take a seat Diddy—did he? (did he!) Did she? (did she!) No halo in the paperwork, no crown in the receipt Diddy—did he? (did he!) Did she? (did she!) Let the record show: you don’t outrun the truth on your feet [Bridge] (stop-time) Counsel, approach— (gavel!) (whisper-fast) Who knew, who said, who signed, who saw? (scat) Ba-doo-bap, ba-doo-bap—name that law Sax man testify with a razor-tone cry Trumpets raise hands like “don’t ask me why” (full band) HEY! (HEY!) (voice) I’m just the clerk with a swing and a pen But the pattern looks loud when you zoom back in [Final Chorus] Diddy—did he? (did he!) Did she? (did she!) Did we learn a thing when the gavel hit the beat? Diddy—did he? (did he!) Did she? (did she!) No backstage magic when the truth hits repeat Diddy—did he? (did he!) Did she? (did she!) Everybody talking till the cross-exam speaks Diddy—did he? (did he!) Did she? (did she!) Let the record show: you don’t outrun the truth on your feet [Outro] (gavel tap) Case adjourned— (trumpet fall) (crowd hush) (soft) Next docket: accountability.
