MI NEGRITA [VERSE 1 — FEMALE SUNG, RAW STEADY GROOVE] Abuelo, can you hear me? I still call when life gets hard. They say heaven keeps you close— But heaven feels so far. You walked two hours to get me to school, Never let me see you tired. Now I’d walk all night to nowhere Just to hear your voice one time. Everywhere you went, I followed, Your little shadow at your side. You were my abuelo, my safe place— My home when I was a child. You made your granddaughter feel worthy Without earning it at all. When the safest home I ever knew was gone, I didn’t know how to take that loss. [PRE-CHORUS — EMOTIONAL LIFT] You’d look at my pale little face And smile before you’d speak— “Ven acá, mi negrita…” That name is love And grief to me. God, what I would give To hear you say it now— Instead of in my head. [ONE BEAT OF SILENCE] [CHORUS — FULL EMOTIONAL DROP] I’m still your negrita— But you’re not here to call me that. Some nights the love you raised me with Makes me miss you twice as bad. You were gone before my wedding day. I smiled, but I was breaking. Every step down that aisle without your hand Felt like losing you again. Mira, Abuelo— I made it here, But God, I still need you now. You spent your whole life Making me smile— I hope I make you Smile somehow. [VERSE 2 — FULL BEAT, DEEPER VOCAL] An empty chair. A white dress. Everybody said I glowed. I kept looking toward the doorway, Though I knew you couldn’t come. I would’ve traded every flower, Every picture, every dance, Just to have my abuelo beside me, Walking with me hand in hand. They told me you were with me, And I tried to make that enough. But I didn’t want a sign that day— I wanted you there, Abuelo. There were nights I didn’t want morning, When the dark pulled me away. Then I remembered I’m your negrita— And I stayed another day. [PRE-CHORUS — DRUMS BUILD] I used to think that losing you Meant all your love was gone. Now I carry how you raised me— And still keep wanting you home. [ONE BEAT OF SILENCE] [CHORUS — BIGGER DROP] I’m still your negrita— But you’re not here to call me that. Some nights the love you raised me with Makes me miss you twice as bad. You were gone before my wedding day. I smiled, but I was breaking. Every step down that aisle without your hand Felt like losing you again. Mira, Abuelo— I made it here, But God, I still need you now. You spent your whole life Making me smile— I hope I make you Smile somehow. [BRIDGE — FULLY SUNG, BEAT STRIPS TO HEARTBEAT] Abuelo, todavía duele Como el día en que te perdí. Dicen que el tiempo lo cura— Pero no te devuelve a mí. Cómo extraño tu sonrisa. Cómo extraño tu “ven acá.” Mira hasta dónde llegó tu negrita… Ojalá estuvieras aquí. [DRUMS BEGIN TO RISE] They keep saying you’re beside me. Some days, I swear it’s true. But some days I don’t want a memory— Abuelo… I just want you. [TOTAL SILENCE] [FINAL CHORUS — HARDEST DROP, VOCAL CRACKING] I’m still your negrita— But you’re not here to call me that. Some nights the love you raised me with Makes me miss you twice as bad. You were gone before my wedding day. That wound never stopped aching. Every step down that aisle without your hand Still feels like losing you again. Mira, Abuelo— I’m still here. Look at your granddaughter now. You spent your whole life Making me smile— I hope through all these tears I make you smile now. [OUTRO — CLOSE-MIC, FULLY SUNG] If heaven lets you hear me, I hope you hear this somehow. Your little shadow still misses you. Still needs her abuelo now. Hasta que nos volvamos a ver— Siempre voy a ser… Tu negrita.
