[Verse 1] I came up where the gutters talk Boots on the metal, make the whole block walk Mama said, "Boy, keep your face still" I learned how to smile with a cold steel jaw Sirens on the far side, rain on the drain Same old corners, new names on the chain I seen good men fold for a little gold And the night keep score on a broken soul My coat got weight, my eyes got fire I don't chase luck, I just climb that wire If the world want smoke, I bring more flame But my heart still beat with a dead man's name [Pre-Chorus] Tell me who gon' ride When the church bells hide In the back of my mind I still hear them cry [Chorus] City of tears Softly cryin' City of tears We keep survivin' City of tears Don't let me fall City of tears I done seen it all [Verse 2] Gold on the wrist, but the hurt stay deep Every payday got a ghost on repeat Seen my day-one homie with his head bowed low Lost his last good breath in a casino glow Now the sax moan low like a black sedan And the angels sing high for the stolen man I don't trust the hush, I don't trust the grin Too many saints got scars in they skin I move through the smoke like a rumble in the throat Got a family to feed, got a name to quote If I stand on my own, then I stand for more Than a fresh white line on a hard church floor [Pre-Chorus] Tell me who gon' ride When the church bells hide In the back of my mind I still hear them cry [Chorus] City of tears Softly cryin' City of tears We keep survivin' City of tears Don't let me fall City of tears I done seen it all [Bridge] [Breakdown] When the lights go dim And the crowns get thin I hear harps in the dark Like a prayer on my skin No clean escape Just a harder day But I still stand tall In the hurt I made [Final Chorus] City of tears Softly cryin' City of tears We keep survivin' City of tears Don't let me fall City of tears I done seen it all City of tears Softly cryin' City of tears I keep climbin' City of tears My heart still calls City of tears Through it all
