[Chorus — melodic, let the end words ring] I keep on comin’ down; tha rent stays high. I tell her I’m okay; she knows I lie. She stays up just to check I’m still alive. Can’t look her in tha face and tell her why. “Jus’ one more, then I’m done”—that’s what I said. I spent our food cash gettin’ high instead. She asks if I ate; I say, “Go to bed.” Can’t sleep; I count tha things I should’ve said. [Verse 1 — steady, stressed words forward] Tha ash fell in tha jeans I wore all week. I brush it off; can’t brush off losin’ sleep. My boss called twice; I let tha damn phone beep. I need that shift; these habits don’t come cheap. I clock in late, still wearin’ last night’s clothes. He asks me if I’m sick; I say, “Tha cold.” He says, “Go home”; that’s less cash than I owe. I hit tha same damn number on tha road. That bag ain’t big; it took my whole damn pay. I watched tha sun come up, then slept all day. She left my food wrapped up on tha same plate. I warmed it twice, then threw it all away. Her key still fits; she barely comes around. To fill tha room, I turn tha TV loud. It’s been three nights since I last turned it down. I miss her voice, but won’t pick up right now. [Chorus — same melody, open vowels] I keep on comin’ down; tha rent stays high. I tell her I’m okay; she knows I lie. She stays up just to check I’m still alive. Can’t look her in tha face and tell her why. “Jus’ one more, then I’m done”—that’s what I said. I spent our food cash gettin’ high instead. She asks if I ate; I say, “Go to bed.” Can’t sleep; I count tha things I should’ve said. [Verse 2 — same pocket, more direct] Tha card got stopped; I tried tha swipe again. Put back tha bread; I spent that last damn ten. Tha clerk knows me; we used to be good friends. I dodge his eyes; he asks me how I’ve been. I say, “Been good”; he looks down at my hands. They shake too much to hide behind tha cans. He bags tha bread and says, “Pay when you can.” I hate how much that hurts; he understands. Back home, her name lights up my cracked phone screen. I type, “I’m fine”; she knows what that shit means. Delete that lie; can’t claim that I’ve been clean. I send, “It’s worse than what you’ve even seen.” She calls; this time I let her call come through. No speech; I say, “Don’t know what else to do. Can’t swear I’m done; I’ve said that shit to you. Jus’ stay with me while I tell you tha truth.” [Final Chorus — same delivery, no extra layers] I keep on comin’ down; tha rent stays high. I tell her I’m okay; she knows I lie. She stays up just to check I’m still alive. Can’t look her in tha face and tell her why. “Jus’ one more, then I’m done”—that’s what I said. I spent our food cash gettin’ high instead. She asks if I ate; I say, “Go to bed.” Can’t sleep; I count tha things I should’ve said.
