Ashes

[Verse 1 – Raspy grit-sung with distorted blues rock guitar] I burned the bridge and the road behind it, said I’d never crawl again. But some nights I still smell that smoke and wonder what I lost back then. My boots are worn like my conscience is, heavy with ghosts and sins. I don’t pray no more, I just grit my teeth and let the fire begin. [Verse 2 – Southern-fried low rap with metal drums and grimy bass] I walked through hell with a match in my teeth. Told the devil back up while I screamed on beat. Ain’t no halo hangin’ on this frame, just old scars and a God I blamed. I ain’t proud of the man I was, but I’d rather be hated than fake some love. Ain’t no peace when your soul’s this loud. I never wanted heaven, just to make her proud. [Pre-Chorus – Melodic scream-singing with minimal reverb, focused harmony, high clarity] They say ashes mean it's over, but I still feel the flame. They said I should be sober, but that don’t drown the shame. [Chorus – Clean shouted-sung vocals with tight drums, stripped distortion, minimal layering, high clarity] Ashes ain’t enough to cover what I did. Smoke can’t hide the mess I hid. But I still stand with fists clenched tight, daring the dark to steal my light. I’ve bled, I’ve burned, I’ve broke, I’ve begged— but I never gave up, I never stayed dead. So bury me deep if you think I’m done, but don’t blink, I rise like a loaded gun. [Verse 3 – Spoken-rap with slow southern flow, crunchy bass and steel slide guitar] Mama said I’d break if I kept this pace. Well I broke, but I bit the chains. I ain't sober for applause or stage, I’m clean so I can walk through flames. Let ‘em talk, let ‘em scoff, I don’t owe that past a thing. I’m the storm in the Sunday choir now, still the devil’s favorite fling. [Bridge – Whispered build to scream, doom guitar and tension-filled drums] I held the line when it snapped in my hands. Spit blood just to feel like a man. This ain’t peace, it’s war disguised. But I’m still breathin’ and that’s my prize. [Final Chorus – Clean shouted-sung vocals with widened stereo, boosted rhythm section, no layered harmonies] Ashes ain’t enough to cover what I did. Smoke can’t hide the mess I hid. But I still stand with fists clenched tight, daring the dark to steal my light. I’ve bled, I’ve burned, I’ve broke, I’ve begged— but I never gave up, I never stayed dead. So bury me deep if you think I’m done, but don’t blink, I rise like a loaded gun. [Outro – Spoken rasp over fading guitar and reverb-heavy kick] Still here. Still burnin’. Ashes never stopped me. They just marked the start. Oooooooooo oooooooooooo Oooooooooo oooooooooooo [Fade out while repeating ooooohs]