Scars Don't Come Off (Dead Ducks)

[Intro – instrumental, 15–20 seconds] (Warm keys, vinyl crackle) [Spoken – calm] Yeah… This ain’t damage. This is proof. [Chorus – smooth, reflective] I been broken, but I’m still intact Wear my scars like a championship patch Life hit hard, yeah, I hit right back Dead Duck talk — that’s a fact I been bent, I been dragged through that Still breathe calm when the world collapse If you see the cracks, don’t look back That’s where the light get in, adapt [Instrumental break – 6 seconds] [Verse 1 – Mac-style introspection] I learned peace don’t come clean It come chipped, bent, and weathered I learned smiles hit different When you really been through whatever Lost nights, lost friends, lost time Found self in the fallout When everything you built fell down You find out what you built *with*, wow I ain’t chase perfect endings I chased mornings I could stand in Some people left when it went quiet Others stayed — that’s my standard I talk to myself kinder now Less blame, more understanding If I’m still here after all that noise Then I’m stronger than I planned it [Chorus – repeat] I been broken, but I’m still intact Wear my scars like a championship patch Life hit hard, yeah, I hit right back Dead Duck talk — that’s a fact I been bent, I been dragged through that Still breathe calm when the world collapse If you see the cracks, don’t look back That’s where the light get in, adapt [Instrumental break – beat darkens, 6 seconds] [Verse 2 – gritty, Wu-style aggression] I earned every scar, don’t pity me Pain trained me, built discipline in me I survived nights that shoulda split me Still stand tall, no sympathy I don’t flex chains, I flex endurance I don’t beg wins, I bend circumstances If you see rage, it’s well-directed Quiet when I move, loud when I answer Dead Duck bars — that’s self-report Means I died once and I still came back Means I crawled through the worst of it And I don’t owe nobody an explanation for that They talk tough from a safe distance I talk facts from experience If scars tell stories, read my skin This survival ain’t coincidence [Chorus – repeat, slightly stronger] I been broken, but I’m still intact Wear my scars like a championship patch Life hit hard, yeah, I hit right back Dead Duck talk — that’s a fact I been bent, I been dragged through that Still breathe calm when the world collapse If you see the cracks, don’t look back That’s where the light get in, adapt [Bridge – breakdown, 25–30 seconds] (Beat strips back, low drums) They see damage. I see mileage. They see scars. I see titles. If you survived it, You earned it. [Instrumental build – 8 seconds] [Final Chorus – extended, layered styles] I been broken, but I’m still intact Scars don’t fade, nah, scars stay strapped Life tried breakin’ me — I bent back Dead Duck stance — I stand like that I been bent, I been dragged through that Still breathe calm in the aftermath If you see the cracks, understand that That’s where the strength got manufactured I been broken, still beautiful Still breathing, still dangerous Dead Ducks don’t hide damage We wear it — ceremonial [Outro – instrumental fade, 20–30 seconds] (Keys return, calm resolve)