Fewer, better friends.

[Intro – spoken word] [Soft acoustic guitar strum] Reporter asked me, “After thirty, how many friends survive?” [High school laughter] Four! “See you at the top!” — right? [chuckle] Yeah… let’s not lie. [Verse 1] We said “let’s keep in touch” in caps and smiles Locked it in a drawer, let it rust for a while Group chats went from noise to a silent screen Just birthday pings and wedding invites in between He typed, “I’m kinda broke these days…” I stared at blue bubbles, learned to fade Value and price got tangled somehow Lesson one of growing up is now [Chorus] They say fewer friends means higher grade Like rare editions reality saves From midnight talks to a like-and-wave Mortgages, metrics, lives mislaid Hearts are limited, profits flow I tell myself, soft and low: “Easy… don’t make it loud.” [Instrumental Hook] [Electric guitar riff] [Big drum fill] [Verse 2] Office smiles, polite and clean Clocking out turns us strangers again Wine goes down, “brothers” don’t stay All we got left is scores and rent to pay Faith looks pure, feeds look staged “How you doing?” — “Fine, just busy these days” The real reply hides under sheets At 3 a.m. with no sleep [Chorus] They say fewer friends means higher grade Like minerals buried deep in the shade From sixteen to fifty, what remains Two names you’ll never erase Useless noise, toxic crowds I’d rather talk to ChatGPT till dawn It won’t borrow cash or run. [Bridge – half-rap] [808 thump] [Glitch static] Hey! Reunions flex too hard First love’s got two kids, congrats, heart emoji, done Workplace got allies, not soul-bond cards Don’t get stabbed — call it luck and move on They praise networks like holy art But you got twenty-four hours, you gonna rest or not? Your truth’s a joke, their ladder’s tall Your downfall’s their alcohol [Verse 3 – calm] [Drums drop out] Thirty-four, I cross out names in ink Get used to meet-and-miss, I think After fifty, one thing’s clear It’s not the count, it’s who stays near Silence that feels safe and right Like building models late at night Learning how to like My quiet side [Outro] [Acoustic guitar harmonics] The updated guidebook gently wrote: “Best friends: keep stock at zero or one.” Money never ghosts me, no. As for “see you at the top”… [soft laugh / sigh] Let’s meet at Twin Peaks instead — Probably sooner.