[Intro] Yeah Hold on [Verse 1 – A/B] Stayin' fresh when it gets so dirty Strange bird from Africa, caged in America Mama come in court waitin' on that verdict Ran ecstatic like a leopard, they don’t get the message Vision of that casket got her so hurtin' Misunderstood as the foreigner, “quote unquote” average Joe Mind of an oracle, what you hatin’ for? I'm steady creatin' though, why is you waitin', bro? The time is now, and um— This is what I've seen, why these thoughts so pertinent Stay cool through it all, stay fresh through it all Stay blessed through it all, cross your morals I'm guaranteed you destined to fall I put my wins in these bars, I put my L's in 'em too I learned the rules of the game and I respected 'em too But now I'm ready to break 'em, what you expect me to do? [Pre-Chorus – B] They try to write me off, but I'm still writin' on I turn my pain to songs, help the quiet feel strong Every bar they built, I bend until it's gone You can't stop the dawn, I rise, I move on [Hook – A/B] Why, stayin' fresh through it all? (Huh) From the cage to the sky, I’m soaring Yeah Every wound in my past, still roaring Why, stayin' fresh through it all, baby? Can’t hold me down, no borders, no walls Strange bird sings loud, hear the call [Verse 2 – A/B] Callin' me about mess, bro, I'm rejectin' the call This n***a still stayin' still and they acceptin' the stall I'm not respectin' the stall, it's not respected at all Keep goin', keep growin', keep your chin to the stars Raised on resistance, fluent in struggle Dreams in my fist, can't burst my bubble They said “fall in line,” I don't march the same I built my own fire, I carved my own name History heavy, still my spirit stays wild Plantin' seeds for tomorrow, watch the future smile I put my wins in these bars, I put my L's in 'em too J for sho' been a P and brought the L's with him too Fuck an election, I'm tryna make sure my section evolve From the ground to the stage, from the silence to sound Strange bird flies higher, wings never touch down [Bridge – B / Ad-libs A] What you fear, I embrace (yeah), what you doubt, I create What you cage, I escape, I was born to innovate If the door don’t open, I’m makin’ a way (keep goin’) If the path ain’t paved, I’m shapin’ the clay [Final Hook – Tight Blend] From the cage to the sky, I’m soaring Stayin' fresh when it gets so dirty Every wound in my past, still roaring Stay blessed through it all, keep your chin to the stars Can’t hold me down, no borders, no walls I'm turnin' pain into songs, breakin' every bar Strange bird sings loud, hear the call Why, stayin’ fresh through it all? (Huh) [Outro] You can’t stop the dawn, I rise, I move on Stay fresh through it all, then we all evolve
