[Intro] Hard living in the world today Hard leaving in the world today When the job I have don't pay my way This little check barely buys my way Clock in, clock out, same gray wall Clock in, clock out, still I'm short Count coins, count cuts, same old report Late fees talking louder than my pride Fridge light bright on a couple old dinners Fridge light on but the shelf half bare They don’t see the red letters in my face Smile on my face, but the stress right there I got kids in the kitchen asking “what’s for dinner?” Little eyes asking, "Dad, we okay?" They just see a hero who’s stuck in place For the faces in my house that I guard each day [Pre-Chorus] Landlord knocking saying "Rent run late" I been begging hours from the job I hate Bus ride home with my head bowed low Dreams in my phone that I can't unload [Hook] I wanna do right, make it out someday I want to do right, only legal pay Keep my hands clean, eat off legal pay Tryna keep my hands clean, find a better way (yeah) World screaming "cheat", bills saying "stray" But my heart says "stay", I’ma stand tall, okay I just need enough to live off legal pay Survive off legal pay [Verse] Cousin pulling up, pockets too fat Cousin in the fast lane, cash real quick Says, "You could double in a week off that" New shoes, new chain, same old risk He say, "Why you struggle for a small-time check?" Fast cash shining in his eyes I see the cuffs in the shine on his neck But my daughter’s face cuts through the lies Hard leaving all that easy money on the table When the job I have barely keeps the lights stable Every shortcut pull me from the core If I lose myself, then my kids lose me more So I hustle legal, go to sleep half fed Deep breath when I lay in bed Got family who looks at me every day They don’t need a king, just a place that’s safe [Breakdown] Prayin' in the break room, hands still grease "Give me strength, give my worry some peace" Got family who looks at me each day Might bend but I swear I don't break So I bend but I don’t break, grind through the gray I’ll build this life slow if that’s what it take If I rise, I rise off only legal pay Storms might hit, hope might sway [Hook – DJ Flip] I wanna do right (do right) Only legal pay (legal pay) Keep my hands clean (hands clean) Find a better way (better way) World screaming "cheat", bills saying "stray" But my heart says "stay", I’ma stand tall today I just need enough to live off legal pay I’ma rise again, survive off legal pay [Outro – Call & Response] World saying "cheat" — Heart says "stay" Bills saying "stray" — Only legal pay If I rise, I rise off only legal pay I’ma stand tall, survive off legal pay Live off legal pay (yeah, legal pay)
