[DOUBLE-TIME RAP — IMMEDIATE] A friend of mine knew a friend of mine, Knew where I slept, what I kept, when I'd step outside, Knew what I feared, what I buried, what I couldn't describe, Funny—an enemy knocks. Betrayal already had a key when it arrived. Knew the combination 'cause I gave it in trust, Knew which memory to bend, which button to touch, Knew the bruise under pride, knew the lie I'd believe, 'Cause I told you where it hurt when I thought you wouldn't leave. That's the difference. Strangers gotta study the fence. You already knew the gate. Strangers gotta guess at the wound. You remembered the date. You didn't find the knife— you knew where I kept it. Didn't break into my life— I fucking let you in it. [BEAT DROPS TO HALF-TIME] [RESONATOR SLIDE] [FEMALE R&B] A friend of mine... A friend of mine... [CHORUS] A FRIEND OF MINE... That's all you're gonna get. I won't tattoo your name on a wound I won't forget. A FRIEND OF MINE... No names, no alibis. An enemy would've broken in— YOU WERE ALREADY INSIDE. [FEMALE HARMONY] Already inside... Already inside... [VERSE 2 — RAP] You wanna know why betrayal hits different? 'Cause hate from a stranger don't know your kitchen. Don't know your mother, your money, your doubt, what makes you go quiet, what brings the worst out. But a friend? A friend knows the floor plan. Knows which light stays on. Knows the version of the story you don't tell everyone. That's access. And access ain't love. Proximity ain't loyalty. History ain't trust. Somebody can sit at your table and still count what you got. Smile when you're winning, secretly pray that you stop. That's brutal. But brutal ain't fatal. Information hurts— then information gets useful. So I don't need revenge. Don't need you crawling back. You showed me who you are— I CAN WORK WITH THAT. [PRE-CHORUS — R&B] I loved you clean. You played it dirty. That doesn't mean you get to hurt me forever. Trust ain't dead. My heart ain't black. Baby, you just don't get yours back. [CHORUS] A FRIEND OF MINE... That's all you're gonna get. I won't tattoo your name on a wound I won't forget. A FRIEND OF MINE... That's how the story dies. An enemy would've broken in— YOU WERE ALREADY INSIDE. [POST] No name. No fame. No monument tonight. You don't get forever just because you held the knife. [VERSE 3 — BETRAYER PERSPECTIVE / FAST RAP] I betrayed you 'cause your trust made the target easy, You showed me every room and believed me when you needed me. I knew which truth would cut, which lie you'd second-guess, which button looked like anger but was really tenderness. I wanted you hurt. Wanted you watching me win. Wanted you questioning yourself before questioning what I did. I wanted something you had I couldn't build on my own, so I poisoned the room then complained about the smoke. I knew your loyalty. Used it as leverage. Knew you'd blame yourself— that's the ugliest benefit. You thought because I knew you I'd know where not to aim. I knew you. THAT'S WHY I KNEW EXACTLY WHERE TO AIM. [BEAT CUT] [COSMIC] That's what betrayal sounds like when you finally translate it. [SUB HITS] [VERSE 4 — RAP] Now revenge says, "Make 'em hurt." Pride says, "Make 'em watch." Anger wants the old key back inside the lock. Nah. Wisdom changed the access. Didn't announce the code. Didn't burn the whole damn house because one room got cold. I won't make one betrayal my excuse to distrust every beautiful motherfucker brave enough to show up. That's how betrayal wins twice. First they break what you had. Then you make everybody after them pay for what they never did. Fuck that. You lose access. I keep love. You lose my table. I keep trust. You lose the version of me who handed you everything— I KEEP ME. That's enough. [BRIDGE — RHODES / BASS CLARINET / RESONATOR] [FEMALE R&B] Who was it...? [COSMIC] A friend of mine. Who hurt you...? A friend of mine. Who taught you to lock that door? [COSMIC] Same one. [FEMALE] Do you hate them? [COSMIC] No. That's giving them another room. [BUILD] Trusting wasn't my crime. What you did with the trust was yours. What I do with the lesson— IS MINE. [FINAL CHORUS — HUGE] A FRIEND OF MINE... That's all you're gonna get. I won't build you a throne from the pain you left. A FRIEND OF MINE... No names, no alibis. An enemy would've broken in— YOU WERE ALREADY INSIDE. A FRIEND OF MINE... Now you're outside looking in. I DIDN'T LOSE MY HEART— I CHANGED WHO GETS A KEY TO IT. [FEMALE HARMONIES] A friend of mine... A friend of mine... [EVERYTHING STRIPS AWAY] [UPRIGHT BASS] [LOW HUM] [RESONATOR SLIDE] No names in the record. No name on the stone. You wanted to live in my head— I won't give you the home. [PAUSE] "Who taught you that?" [COSMIC] A friend of mine. [CUT]
