# A GUN IS NOT A TOY **[Intro — whispered, dark atmosphere]** I thought I'd never have to be afraid again… Thought I finally had control. I called it protection. I never thought it'd take my soul. **[Verse 1]** I used to walk with my head held low, Let people talk, never let my anger show. I got tired of feeling like I couldn't defend Myself in a world where the threats never end. So I bought me a reason to feel ten feet tall, Started thinking I was never gonna fall. I saw fear in their eyes, thought that meant respect, Never stopped to think what would happen next. I'd take it out at night, just to look at the steel, Trying to convince myself the power was real. Told myself I'm careful, told myself I'm smart, Never understood how close I was to falling apart. My mama called my name from the other side of the door, Asked me if I was okay — I said, “Yeah, nothing more.” She thought I was growing up, learning to be a man, I was holding something dangerous I didn't understand. **[Chorus — heavy drums, restrained vocals]** A gun is not a toy, I should've known that then, I thought it made me safe, thought it made me a man. I was trying to hide all the fear inside, Now there's nowhere left for me to run or hide. A gun is not a toy, there's no rewind, One careless second can leave your whole world behind. I only wanted to feel like I had control, Now I'm paying the price for a lie I told. **[Verse 2]** It was just another night, just me inside my room, Same old walls, same shadows, same familiar gloom. I was laughing to myself, acting like a fool, Thinking nothing could go wrong — I thought I knew the rules. I treated it like nothing, like a prop in a scene, Like the things I saw in movies couldn't happen to me. I thought I had it handled, thought I knew enough, Never realized that being reckless isn't being tough. Then the whole world stopped — I remember that sound, Like the sky cracked open and swallowed the ground. My phone fell away, and the room went still, And the future I'd imagined disappeared against my will. I never wanted this, I never wanted to die, I just wanted to feel safe, just wanted to feel alive. Now I think about my mother waiting outside, And the things I never told her, all the tears she never cried. **[Bridge — beat fades, distant vocals]** Mama, I'm sorry… I thought I was strong. I thought I was ready… I thought nothing could go wrong. I didn't want to leave you, I had so much left to do. I thought that gun would save me… I was wrong. I was wrong. **[Final Chorus — emotional, heavier instrumental]** A gun is not a toy, now I know what it means, It's not protection when you're careless with a dream. I wanted to be fearless, wanted no one to decide If I was weak or strong — so I put my life at risk that night. A gun is not a toy, there's no rewind, No second chance to leave this night behind. I had a whole life waiting, so much left to say, But I made one stupid choice that took it all away. **[Outro — almost whispered, no drums]** I thought I held control… I thought I couldn't fall… I only wanted to feel safe. I never thought I'd lose it all. A gun is not a toy… I wish I'd known before.
