i left the city with smoke in my lungs truth in a backpack held shut by string every road promised gold in the distance every mile charged interest on hope people sold shortcuts beside the gate said comfort cheap if i stayed in line but peace with a price ain’t peace at all just polished chains in softer light i walked through mud that remembered my name boots sank deep but i still moved slow fear got loud like carnival speakers faith stayed quiet but carried weight i got lost trying to save my image found more truth when the mirror cracked all those voices said turn around but ruin looked too much like home head down heart steady one more step through the dark cold wind don’t own me i know who we are long road same soul carry that fire through one more hill one more night light still cuts through i met a thief dressed up like wisdom smooth talk mouth with a preacher smile said trade that pain for an easier dream i almost folded for half a song but something deeper kept pulling forward like bells far off in the pouring rain funny how hope looks weak from a distance then lifts a weight ten fears could not i seen proud kings hide scared hands shaking seen broke hearts feed whole rooms with grace truth don’t glitter like cheap temptation it burns real slow but it stays warm late head down heart steady one more step through the dark cold wind don’t own me i know who we are long road same soul carry that fire through one more hill one more night light still cuts through i ain’t clean i ain’t fearless i just got tired of running backwards all that noise all them masks fell off somewhere in the valley road head down heart steady still hear that call ahead long road same soul not done breathing yet one more hill one more night sky breaking blue light came slow but it came and that was enough truth
