[Intro — spoken, close + dry] I’m tired. And I’m still broke. [Verse 1] Alarm at five, eyes feel sand, Coffee’s thin and the check don’t land. Gas light on, rent due soon, Boss text “need you” like it’s a favor, dude. We’re “short-staffed” every damn week, So I do two jobs with one mouth to feed. Smile for customers, bite my tongue, Act like I’m fine when my back’s half done. [Pre-Chorus] They say “be grateful,” “don’t complain,” Like stress is normal, like pain’s a wage. I’m not lazy, I’m just spent— And I’m tired of pretending. [Chorus — big + stompy] I can’t afford quiet, I can’t afford rest, Can’t afford “maybe,” can’t afford stress. They want my weekends, want my spine, For a check that’s late and a life on “fine.” If the bass hits hard, that’s me exhaling, That’s the sound of a person not failing— Just drowning slow in a system that says: “Work harder.” Yeah. Cool. Still broke. [Drop — vocal chops OK] (Can’t afford… quiet…) (Still broke… still broke…) [Verse 2] HR talk with a plastic smile, “Use your PTO” — yeah, after a while. But if I miss, the bills don’t pause, And the bank don’t care about “mental fog.” Promotion dangled like a leash on meat, Extra tasks, same pay, same seat. And the “we’re a family” line hits weird, ’Cause my real family barely sees me here. [Pre-Chorus] I’m doing my best, I’m doing it straight, But you can’t “hustle” a body that’s frayed. I don’t need a speech, I need my pay— On time. Full. Today. [Bridge — spoken, tension build] Let me say it plain: I’m not asking for luxury. I’m asking for breathing room. I’m asking for one check that doesn’t disappear in two days. [Final Chorus — biggest] I can’t afford quiet, I can’t afford rest, Can’t afford “maybe,” can’t afford stress. They want my weekends, want my spine, For a check that’s late and a life on “fine.” If the bass hits hard, that’s me exhaling, That’s the sound of a person not failing— Just drowning slow in a system that says: “Work harder.” Yeah. Cool. Still broke. [Outro — hard stop] Still broke. Still here.
