Page 222 - Keeper of the Flame

boom-bap, East Coast hip hop, sample-based rap

[Verse 1]
They called him idiot nephew, said he’d never steer,
Then he studied every whisper that they mouthed in his ear.
Assistant on the lot turned a key in the gate,
Wore the smirk of a prince who already knew the estate.
Shamrock on his jacket, Gold at his side,
Two signatures away from a hostile tide.
He scoffed at the park plans, got a side-eye glare,
But the crowd that said no had to breathe his air.
He watched masters of the pen load ledgers with blame,
Then he showed them better math, now the credits say his name.
Writers Guild handshakes, a yacht cut wakes,
He learned speed on the water, brought that pace to the stakes.

[Hook - Old man plays the spoons]
He was Keeper of the Flame, while the halls threw shade,
They wrote him off early, he rewrote the page.
Call it cocky if you want, that is armor and aim,
He took every slight, fed the fire, then came.
Keeper of the Flame, no permission to climb,
He stacked quiet alliances, then moved on time.

[Verse 2]
Heirlooms in the corridors, portraits with eyes,
Every frame keeps score when a favorite dies.
Uncle barely smiled, son-in-law sneered,
But a crown gets heavy when the rivals get cleared.
You can shrug at Disneyland till the revenue spikes,
Then respect turns up with the heat of the lights.
Board votes shuffle like a dealer with grace,
If you count long enough, you can see his place.
Tastevin dinners, the 100 Club toast,
A list full of names that the papers won’t post.
Phone rings late, that is Stanley on line,
He says, watch this move, then the numbers align.
Keep your title polite, keep your paperwork mean,
He pressed where it hurt and he kept hands clean.

[Bridge]
Keep the minutes in a folder, keep the folder in a safe,
Keep the safe inside a room where the echoes hold a case.
If you hate, keep it quiet, if you bet, keep it brave,
If you win, keep it moving, if you lose, keep a face.

[Verse 3]
Paper cuts bleed when the proxy wars start,
He learned how to fight with a calendar chart.
From soundstage dust to the suite with a view,
To the clause on the line that decides who is who.
If the vote tallies thin, you phone friends with steel,
If the bidder gets close, you unbutton a deal.
Keeper is a title you inherit by scars,
He kept that light steady through a field of cigars.
Write me down petty, play the fool, take the blame,
Then flip it at the bell, walk away with the game.

[Outro]
Keeper of the flame in a city of smoke,
When the room went dark, he was holding the choke.
Call him anything you want, but respect this stroke,
He turned every joke to a backroom vote.
[Fade with Old man playing the spoons]

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[Intro] Keeper of the flame, they laughed at his name, Said the nephew was a joke, now he’s cutting the lane. From Buena Vista to the boardroom throne, He learned how to swim where the sharks get grown. [Verse 1] They called him idiot nephew, said he’d never steer, Then he studied every whisper that they mouthed in his ear. Assistant on the lot turned a key in the gate, Wore the smirk of a prince who already knew the estate. Shamrock on his jacket, Gold at his side, Two signatures away from a hostile tide. He scoffed at the park plans, got a side-eye glare, But the crowd that said no had to breathe his air. He watched masters of the pen load ledgers with blame, Then he showed them better math, now the credits say his name. Writers Guild handshakes, a yacht cut wakes, He learned speed on the water, brought that pace to the stakes. [Hook - Old man plays the spoons] He was Keeper of the Flame, while the halls threw shade, They wrote him off early, he rewrote the page. Call it cocky if you want, that is armor and aim, He took every slight, fed the fire, then came. Keeper of the Flame, no permission to climb, He stacked quiet alliances, then moved on time. [Verse 2] Heirlooms in the corridors, portraits with eyes, Every frame keeps score when a favorite dies. Uncle barely smiled, son-in-law sneered, But a crown gets heavy when the rivals get cleared. You can shrug at Disneyland till the revenue spikes, Then respect turns up with the heat of the lights. Board votes shuffle like a dealer with grace, If you count long enough, you can see his place. Tastevin dinners, the 100 Club toast, A list full of names that the papers won’t post. Phone rings late, that is Stanley on line, He says, watch this move, then the numbers align. Keep your title polite, keep your paperwork mean, He pressed where it hurt and he kept hands clean. [Bridge] Keep the minutes in a folder, keep the folder in a safe, Keep the safe inside a room where the echoes hold a case. If you hate, keep it quiet, if you bet, keep it brave, If you win, keep it moving, if you lose, keep a face. [Hook - Old man plays the spoons] He was Keeper of the Flame, while the halls threw shade, They wrote him off early, he rewrote the page. Call it cocky if you want, that is armor and aim, He took every slight, fed the fire, then came. Keeper of the Flame, no permission to climb, He stacked quiet alliances, then moved on time. [Verse 3] Paper cuts bleed when the proxy wars start, He learned how to fight with a calendar chart. From soundstage dust to the suite with a view, To the clause on the line that decides who is who. If the vote tallies thin, you phone friends with steel, If the bidder gets close, you unbutton a deal. Keeper is a title you inherit by scars, He kept that light steady through a field of cigars. Write me down petty, play the fool, take the blame, Then flip it at the bell, walk away with the game. [Outro] Keeper of the flame in a city of smoke, When the room went dark, he was holding the choke. Call him anything you want, but respect this stroke, He turned every joke to a backroom vote. [Fade with Old man playing the spoons]

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