Skating By (by Vex Kaiden)

[Male Vocal | dark soulful raspy-breathy delivery | close-mic intimacy | vinyl crackle | low-register gravitas] [Intro | half-pipe drop-in sound — accelerating descent with metal chain drag and sandpaper scuff | half-time 90 BPM | distant muted metal xylophone pattern | lush cinematic pads] [industrial drop-in whoosh into chain drag + sandpaper scuff rhythm] [Verse 1 | frantic rapid-fire rap | tense intense delivery | warm warped sub + metal chain drag and sandpaper scuff minimal | brake drum thud + pipe clang + cabasa rattle] Everybody wants the crown but nobody wants to push Want the throne but scared to bleed, scared to grind, scared to trust Scrolling for the glow-up, praying for the easy route Whole generation coasting, barely moving, full of doubt Called to be kings and queens by the Heavenly Father above But most choose the floor, choose the crumbs, choose the comfortable love [Pre-Chorus | rising tension | edgy steel pan riff + building rusty sheet metal scrapes and sandpaper blocks | increasing energy | pipe clang rail grind + muted metal xylophone pattern + cabasa rattle] They want the glory without the scars, the win without the war Mediocrity spreading like rust — and it’s only getting more [Chorus | soaring theatrical high notes | powerful emotional belt with slight raspy distortion | 118 BPM full tropical percussion drop + intense chain drag and sandpaper scuff slides | muted metal xylophone metallic pattern leading | sidechained sub | lush pads wide] Skating by, skating by — whole world just gliding on the surface Want the kingdom but scared of the work, scared of the purpose Heavenly Father called us higher, called us kings and queens But we settle for mediocre dreams, living in between [Verse 2 | frantic rapid-fire rap | more aggressive delivery | heavier chain drag and sandpaper scuff | brake drum thud + cabasa rattle] Age of instant, age of lazy, age of “give it to me free” Nobody building, everybody claiming what they didn’t earn or see Put in minimum effort, expect maximum return Then cry when the board slips — act shocked when the tables turn We were built for the battle, built for the fire, built for the grind But most rather scroll, stay small, stay blind [Bridge | half-time 90 BPM cinematic | darker pads swell + long descending rusty metal scrapes and sandpaper friction | breathy low-register | whoosh transition | brake drum thuds + distant muted metal xylophone decay + cabasa rattle] If you want a mediocre life, then be a mediocre person Stay comfortable, stay average, keep on coasting in the version But the crown is heavy and it only fits the ones who paid the price Choose your lane… the easy one or the one that makes you Christ-like [Final Chorus | explosive 118 BPM | soaring high notes bigger with heavy layered self-ad-libs and stacked vocal harmonies used as melodic layers | full warm sub + tropical percussion + chaotic chain drag and sandpaper scuff drops | muted metal xylophone prominent pattern | high defiant energy | no further repeats] Skating by, skating by — whole world just gliding on the surface Want the kingdom but scared of the work, scared of the purpose Heavenly Father called us higher, called us kings and queens Choose the grind or choose the fade… what’s it gonna be? [Outro | short gradual slowdown | fading pads + vinyl crackle + final chaotic wipeout crash | clean ending] Skating by… [board slowly losing speed, wobbling, final weak crash and empty chains rattling to a stop]