[Verse 1: Sidewinding low-slung male MC, sidewinding, close, chalk-dust snare] I never leave the floor, that is the deal I made with fear Hands on the brake, eyes on the wall, jaw set clear She signed in as a stranger with a name I did not know Harness pink, shoes chalked, climbing shy and slow Halfway up she locked, legs shaking like a bad radio Crowd noise fell away, just the rope and what I owe I talked her through the next hold like a map drawn in breath Said the wall is just a puzzle and the ground is not a death [Hook: Sidewinding low-slung male MC, loud, sidewinding] Rope do not lie when the weight comes down Trust is a number you can feel in the pound I will take it clean, I will take it slow Rope do not lie, that is all you need to know [Verse 2: Sidewinding low-slung male MC, sidewinding, tighter] She asked me if I had kids in a voice that almost cracked I said one I have not seen, and the silence in me stacked She clipped another quickdraw with her knuckles going white I kept the brake hand honest through the whole quiet fight Years of missed birthdays living rent-free in my chest Climbing gym fluorescent making every regret confess I did not know her face from this angle, not at first Then she looked down scared and I saw the worst and the best [Hook: Sidewinding low-slung male MC, loud, sidewinding] Rope do not lie when the weight comes down Trust is a number you can feel in the pound I will take it clean, I will take it slow Rope do not lie, that is all you need to know [Verse 3: Sidewinding low-slung male MC, weight trust, sidewinding, bass holds] Sit back, I said, let the rope be true Taut bass held one note while the whole gym watched her choose She sat, full weight, syncopated kick returned I caught my daughter clean on a lesson we both learned Waiver said another name, the rope said who she was Floor and ceiling finally agreed on love because [Bridge: Sidewinding low-slung male MC, loud, sidewinding] Not a speech on the mats Just a catch that lasts Fake name on the paper Real weight on the taper [Hook: Sidewinding low-slung male MC, loud, sidewinding] Rope do not lie when the weight comes down Trust is a number you can feel in the pound I will take it clean, I will take it slow Rope do not lie, that is all you need to know [Outro: Sidewinding low-slung male MC, quiet hard, chalk-dust snare rings out and fades] Off belay Welcome back [End]