[INTRO] (A whistle blows.) (Boots stop.) (Silence.) … One voice… Raise… The standard. … Don’t lower it… To meet you. … Rise… To meet it. (Beat detonates.) ⸻ [VERSE 1 — THE LINE NEVER MOVES] No shortcuts. No cheat days From your principles. No excuses. No discounts. No negotiations. No… “Just this once.” No… “Nobody’s watching.” No lowering the bar To fit The mood You’re in. No rewriting The promise You already made Within. (Machine-gun burst.) Tired… Ain’t a discount code. Hard day… Ain’t a discount code. Bad mood… Ain’t a discount code. Long week… Ain’t a discount code. The standard Doesn’t bend For Monday. The standard Doesn’t bend For fear. The standard Doesn’t move. Period. You move. That’s why It’s here. (Boom bap pocket.) A standard That moves… Ain’t a standard. It’s an excuse With better marketing. The line Was never drawn To comfort you. It was drawn To call you Higher. Every sunrise Asks The same question… Did you rise… Or did you lower The line? ⸻ [HOOK] (Entire Brotherhood.) THE!! STAN!! DARD!! THE!! STAN!! DARD!! Raise your work! Raise your word! Raise yourself! ⸻ [VERSE 2 — RISE, DON’T LOWER] Everybody wants An easier climb. Everybody wants The mountain Shorter. Everybody wants The finish line Closer. Not us. (Machine-gun burst.) The world Keeps lowering The bar. The Guild Keeps raising The man. The world Hands out comfort. The Guild Hands out responsibility. The world Says… “Good enough.” The Guild Says… “Again.” (Boom bap pocket.) Don’t ask The mountain To shrink. Grow. Don’t ask The weight To lighten. Lift. Don’t ask The standard To move. Move yourself. That’s the whole difference Between comfort… And character. When the standard Feels heavy… Good. Now you know You’re finally Close enough To touch it. ⸻ [BRIDGE] (Everything cuts.) (Heartbeat.) … One voice… The standard… Doesn’t care… How you feel. … (Beat detonates.) ⸻ [FINAL VERSE — WORTHY] Don’t ask… “Can I?” Wrong question. Ask… “Is this worthy?” (Machine-gun burst.) Is this rep Worthy? Is this promise Worthy? Is this effort Worthy? Is this sunrise Worthy? Is this decision Building The man I said I’d become? Or am I settling For a version That comfort Designed? (Boom bap pocket.) The standard Never demanded Perfection. It demanded Integrity. It never asked You to win Every day. It asked You to refuse To lie About the work. (Machine-gun burst.) Every shortcut Steals tomorrow. Every excuse Collects interest. Every promise Kept… Builds another brick. Every promise Broken… Removes one. So when the day Is over… Don’t ask… “Did I survive?” Ask… “Did I honor The standard?” (Everything drops.) Not perfect. Not lucky. Not gifted. Disciplined. … Meet it. … Again. ⸻ [FINAL HOOK] (Entire Brotherhood. Boots stomping.) THE!! STAN!! DARD!! THE!! STAN!! DARD!! Raise your work! Raise your word! Raise yourself! (Band detonates.) ⸻ [OUTRO] (Boots begin walking again.) … One voice… The standard… Waits… Tomorrow. … Meet it. (Fade.)
