“Quarter Tank of Gas & A Whole Lotta Audacity”

Verse 1 Woke up this morning, thought I had a plan, Tryna help my sister, do the best I can, Photos on the website, products lookin’ fine, Next thing I know, Lord, I’m losin’ my mind. She said, “Girl, what are you doin’ with your life?” I said, “Can we start with the pictures tonight?” One thing led to another, then another and another, Now I’m sittin’ in a parking lot cryin’ to my mother. Pre-Chorus Ooooh, life got jokes today, Everything I touch went sideways, Tryna keep my faith when the bills don’t play, But I ain’t gone break, no way. Chorus Got a thirty-day notice and a quarter tank of gas, Tryna hold it together while the whole day kicks my— (Whoop!) Not today, devil, not today! I’ma cry a little bit then dance anyway! Got a friend named Shanaveon callin’ on my phone, Got a prayer partner tellin’ me I ain’t alone, Got problems stacked higher than the rent I can’t pay, But I’ma cry a little bit then dance anyway! Verse 2 Storage unit packed like a Costco aisle, Everybody got advice, ain’t nobody got a file, Disability pending, unemployment runnin’ out, Lord, if this is character buildin’, I’m built enough now. Got degrees on degrees and books on the shelf, Still fightin’ every day not to doubt myself, But I looked in the mirror and I had to laugh, ‘Cause somehow I’m still here after all that math. Bridge Mama, I miss you… Wish I could call you… Need one of them talks where you tell me what to do… Then I hear a little whisper say, “Baby, you’ve survived worse than today.” Final Chorus Got a thirty-day notice and a dream still alive, Somehow this stubborn heart refuses to die, Got dragons and novels and a future to write, And I ain’t lettin’ one bad day steal my light. Cry a little… Pray a little… Write a little… Dance a little… Cry a little… Pray a little… Write a little… Dance anyway! Outro (spoken over a Chicago house groove) “Yeah… This one goes out to everybody sittin’ in a parking lot at 9 PM, Questioning every decision they ever made… And then goin’ home anyway. That’s called resilience, baby.”