A VESSEL Afro-Organic Soul • Motherland Roots • Nostalgic R&B • 4×4 • 808 Soul [SOFT INTRO — SPOKEN WORD SULTRY| sparse African shaker, distant kalimba, warm Rhodes] (whispered, sing) You gave love freely… You poured from a heart that had plenty. You thought the river would always run. And maybe… it always will. But listen… Just because you have enough doesn’t mean everybody deserves access. (PAUSE — 2 beats) You were never foolish for pouring. You were simply learning… who knew how to hold the water. [VERSE 1 — EMOTIONAL POWERFUL SINGING| mellow Afro-soul] I gave my love with an open hand, Built my heart like a promised land. I gave and gave, I didn’t keep score, Thinking they’d cherish it more and more. I poured my soul into empty cups, Kept giving when I’d had enough. I thought my river would never end, Kept calling strangers family and friends. (spoken) But every open heart needs a guarded door. [PRE-CHORUS — BUILDING | bass enters, soft 808 pulse] There was always more inside of me, More love, more grace, more healing to give. But abundance doesn’t mean everybody gets to live in it. [CHORUS — FULL GROOVE, POWERFUL VOCALS, RUNS | 4×4 drums + 808 + African percussion] Keep your softness, don’t harden your heart, Just learn who deserves every sacred part. Let your river flow, but wisdom be the gate, Everybody can’t drink from what God helped you create. Stop offering sacred water To hands that refuse to become a vessel. A vessel… A vessel… A vessel… [VERSE 2 — DEEPER, MORE INTENSE, DEEP EMOTIONAL RUNS| Afro-R&B call-and-response] I wasn’t foolish, I was generous, I wasn’t weak, I was giving love. I hadn’t learned what discernment meant, Till I watched my own strength get spent. Some people drink but never pour, Some keep asking and still want more. Some hold your kindness like it’s owed, Then disappear when your river slows. (background vocals) “Don’t let them drain you…” “Protect your soul…” You can forgive without giving access, Love from afar without feeling guilt. You can wish them well and still walk away, Without destroying what you built. [PAUSE / DRUM BREAK — EVERYTHING DROPS] (spoken, intimate) Hear me… You can still be soft without being available to everyone. You can still love without abandoning yourself. And you can still have a generous heart… with boundaries. (silence) [BRIDGE — POWERFUL FIRE, CALL-AND -RESPONSE, LONG EMOTIONAL LIFTS AND RUNS| drums slowly return] I AM THE RIVER! But I choose where I flow! I AM THE WATER! But I know where to go! I gave from my heart, Now I’m guarding my soul! What God placed inside me is not yours to control! I WILL LOVE! (background: “LOVE!”) I WILL HEAL! (“HEAL!”) I WILL GIVE! (“GIVE!”) BUT I WILL KNOW WHAT IS REAL! [BRIDGE DROP — BEAT CUTS | one deep drum hit] (spoken) Not every thirsty hand is meant to hold your cup. Not every empty vessel is yours to fill. [MELLOW TRANSITION — NEW AFRICAN-ROOTED BEAT] Warm kalimba • hand percussion • deep 808 • gentle 4×4 kick • earthy bass [FINAL CHORUS — EMOTIONAL , AD-LIBS, POWERFUL RUNS, REVERBS/ CHANTS+ TRIUMPHANT] Keep your softness, don’t harden your heart, Keep your light even when people depart. Let your river flow, but wisdom be the gate, Protect what is sacred—don’t negotiate. Stop offering sacred water To hands that refuse to become a vessel. A vessel… A vessel… A VESSEL! (call-and-response) I am a vessel! “A vessel!” I carry the water! “A vessel!” I protect what God gave me! “A vessel!” [OUTRO — SOFT FADE, spoken word/singing| African drums + kalimba] (spoken softly) I will keep my softness. I will keep my love. I will keep my light. But now… I know who can hold it. Sacred water… Sacred love… Sacred heart… A vessel… A vessel… A vessel… (African hand drums continue softly, gradually fading into silence.)
