[Intro] I had no idea No, I had no idea What family meant to me This is where I came from These are the choices I made That’s what family means to me [Verse 1] I came from a house where the whispers rode first Where they picked their truth by whatever hurt worst Where a name got burned before facts had feet Where love picked sides and called that peace They never saved her a chair, never opened that door Made it real clear she came second for sure Judged her blood by a rumor and face Called a tired man proud when they couldn’t name his pain They said he was cold, said he looked down But sleep stole his eyes and they still ran their mouths They filled in the blanks, let the story breathe Then blamed me for asking what they didn’t wanna see [Pre-Chorus] When a whole damn system puts one heart in the road I don’t sit still and I don’t let go I held up the mirror, asked what was true And they hated what the glass made them do [Chorus] I had no idea what family means Came from locked doors and half-told things This is where I came from, smoke and strings Love with a leash and a smile that stings But here’s the choice I made I stood where she stood Took the hard road and did what I could Found a worn-out table with some chipped-up seats Not perfect people, just people who’d bleed When it matters, we band up When the sky falls, we stand up Blood don’t prove what loyalty brings That’s what family means to me [Verse 2] First real talk came after I was gone Church lights humming while the hurt moved on Her people didn’t crown me or clear my name But they didn’t turn away when the hard year came No, they weren’t saints with halos clean They had their own stories they wrote about me I been labeled this, I been labeled that Most times I wasn’t invited to ask But I don’t hold grudges, I know how folks work Fear writes books when the truth feels worse Her sister said it best, and it stuck like sun “We ain’t perfect, but when it matters, we band up” [Pre-Chorus 2] So I quit chasing rooms that made her feel small Quit bowing to names carved up on a wall If love means ranking who gets to breathe Then that ain’t family, not to me [Chorus] I had no idea what family means Came from locked doors and half-told things This is where I came from, smoke and strings Love with a leash and a smile that stings But here’s the choice I made I stood where she stood Took the hard road and did what I could Found a worn-out table with some chipped-up seats Not perfect people, just people who’d bleed When it matters, we band up When the sky falls, we stand up Blood don’t prove what loyalty brings That’s what family means to me [Verse 3] Four times through that office door Got told no three, still came back once more He said, “I need young and hungry, quick on their feet” I said, “You need seasoned, steady, and clean” I can’t take credit for the road he paved But I kicked that door till it opened his name That’s what I do when my people need air Bust the damn hinges and leave hope there Then the suits came round with a corporate grin Tried painting her dad like the shadow within I saw black stains sitting deep in his hand And asked whose mess made him carry that brand [Bridge] Hospital lights tried to bleach out peace Diagnosis came like a thief in the sheets Treatments took time, fear took sleep And the road got dark, but they stayed with me A ride, a call, a hand on my back No perfect speech, no perfect act Just people still there when the room went cold That taught me more than the blood I was sold [Final Chorus] I had no idea what family means Came from locked doors and half-told things This is where I came from, smoke and strings Love with a leash and a smile that stings But here’s the choice I made I stood where she stood Took the hard road and did what I could Found a worn-out table with some chipped-up seats Not perfect people, just people who’d bleed When it matters, we band up When the sky falls, we stand up Blood don’t prove what loyalty brings That’s what family means to me [Outro] This is where I came from These are the choices I made I had no idea Till they stood in the rain When it matters, we band up When the sky falls, we stand up That’s what family means to me 🎙️ BloodOnTheMic: We’re live across the major streaming platforms. Find us on Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Facebook Music, and more. Listen. Follow. Join the conversation.
