**(Intro – 6 bars)** Yeah… Thug soul, but this pain universal Real ones feel it, fake ones rehearsin’ Seen too much young, now my heart cold steel Tryna chase peace but the war too real If I fall tonight, will they ride or just bail? All I know for sure… only time will tell --- **(Verse 1 – 16 bars)** Born in the struggle, mama cried through the night Daddy gone early, left me fightin’ for life Posted on the block where the guns stay hot Where the cops don’t care and the dreams get shot I done seen homies turn ghosts in a flash One wrong move, now your name in the past We was kids with ambition but the system’s a trap Turn a hustler to a victim, ain’t no comin’ back Tryna stack bread but the devil stay close Every dollar got a stain from the blood we wrote I ain’t proud of the dirt, but I did what I did Just to make sure it’s food where my little ones live Now they judge from afar, never walked in my shoes Never felt that hunger, never paid them dues I keep my head high, though the world wanna see me fail Will I rise or fall? Only time gon’ tell --- **(Chorus – 8 bars, male R&B hook)** Only time will tell… if I make it out alive If the pressure don’t break me, if my soul survive I been walkin’ through the fire, through the pain and hell Will I win or lose? Only time will tell Only time will tell… will my tears turn gold Will my story get told ‘fore my heart turn cold I keep prayin’ for a sign while I dodge this hell Will I see better days? Only time will tell --- **(Verse 2 – 16 bars)** They say the good die young, guess I’m livin’ on edge Every breath feel borrowed, every step near ledge Got my hand on my chest, feel the stress build up Got me drinkin’ every night, tryna numb this stuff I done lost too many to the streets and the cell Some buried in the dirt, some just trapped in a hell We was dreamin’ ‘bout a life where we all get paid Now it’s candles on the curb where their bodies laid Man, this life so cold, got me questionin’ God Why the real ones suffer while the fake play hard? I still pray for forgiveness for the sins I made But survival ain’t clean in the mess we raised If I die today, will they scream my name? Or forget my face like I never came? All this pain in my chest, man it’s hard to exhale Will it break me or build me? Only time will tell --- **(Chorus – 8 bars)** Only time will tell… if I make it out alive If the pressure don’t break me, if my soul survive I been walkin’ through the fire, through the pain and hell Will I win or lose? Only time will tell Only time will tell… will my tears turn gold Will my story get told ‘fore my heart turn cold I keep prayin’ for a sign while I dodge this hell Will I see better days? Only time will tell --- **(Verse 3 – 16 bars)** Now I’m older, see the game from a different view Same block, same pain, just a different crew Young boys with rage and a pistol grip tight Thinkin’ death bring respect, but it steal they life I try to school ‘em but they don’t wanna hear ‘Cause I was just like them, full of anger and fear Now I’m stuck in between, tryna lead and survive Tryna keep my own soul and my people alive I still hustle, but my mind on a better route Tryna turn this pain into somethin’ they remember ‘bout If I make it out clean, I’ma give ‘em hope If I fall in the dark, hope they learn to cope I ain’t perfect, I’m just playin’ the hand I was dealt Every scar on my body, yeah I felt what I felt From the gutter to the grave, it’s a turbulent trail Will I make it to peace? Only time will tell --- **(Chorus – 8 bars)** Only time will tell… if I make it out alive If the pressure don’t break me, if my soul survive I been walkin’ through the fire, through the pain and hell Will I win or lose? Only time will tell Only time will tell… will my tears turn gold Will my story get told ‘fore my heart turn cold I keep prayin’ for a sign while I dodge this hell Will I see better days? Only time will tell --- **(Outro – 6 bars)** Yeah… If you feel me, keep your head up through the storm This life a test, we just tryna stay warm Through the struggle, through the pain we prevail But the truth unfold slow… only time will tell
