[Verse 1: Cleaving keen-edged male MC, cleaving, precise, dry-crack snare] Kid came in hungry with his wraps on too tight Old man was already sweating in the half light Pad work in the corner like a sermon with no words Kid throwing combinations like the air had done him dirt Old man catching everything on the leather and the bone Never throwing back, just a nod and a zone Regulars watched quiet with their speed ropes in a pile Something in that corner did not match the kid's smile [Hook: Cleaving keen-edged male MC, loud, cleaving] Clean shot is the only praise he gives Not a trophy, not a belt, just a hit that lives When the pad pops true and the room goes thin That is the yes, that is the way you get in [Verse 2: Cleaving keen-edged male MC, cleaving, colder] Kid started talking loud about an easy morning mark Said the old man had a chin made of soft bark I almost said a name I had not said in years Champ who left the posters up and walked out of the cheers Watched the footwork of the old man, tiny shifts of weight He was teaching with his ribs and the kid could not translate Every miss the old man ate was a map drawn in bruise Every clean one he was fishing for a student he could use [Hook: Cleaving keen-edged male MC, loud, cleaving] Clean shot is the only praise he gives Not a trophy, not a belt, just a hit that lives When the pad pops true and the room goes thin That is the yes, that is the way you get in [Verse 3: Cleaving keen-edged male MC, clean shot land, cleaving, bass drops] Then it landed, short hook, pad popped like a cap Tense bass dropped out, whole gym heard the snap Old man smiled the first smile I had seen on that face Quiet yes, sparse kick back, lesson in its place Kid froze with his hands up like he finally got the joke Champ tapped his gloves once, that was all he spoke [Bridge: Cleaving keen-edged male MC, loud, cleaving] Not a final, not a card Just a morning and a scar Pads and breath and honesty Clean shot is the degree [Hook: Cleaving keen-edged male MC, loud, cleaving] Clean shot is the only praise he gives Not a trophy, not a belt, just a hit that lives When the pad pops true and the room goes thin That is the yes, that is the way you get in [Outro: Cleaving keen-edged male MC, quiet then firm, dry-crack snare rings out and fades] Five AM Pads down [End]