Track · Mar 17, 2026 · English

Layoff Blues (Hold It Together)

ChazzTheSpazz7 plays

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Duration

4:34

Language

English

Lyrics

[Verse 1]

Alarm rang

thought, "Yeah, today I'm straight"

Fresh shirt

coffee in a paper cup, late

Humming in the hallway

keycard at the gate

Same jokes

same chair

same cheap birthday cake

Boss called, "Close the door"

heart hit the floor

Mouth moved slow

"I gotta let you go"

Box on the desk

I just stared at the stapler

Trying not to beg

Trying not to ask for a savior

Walked past folks

packing my dreams in a carton

They said, "You okay?"

I lied, "I'm just starting"

Parking lot wind

cold in the middle of May

That walk to the car

felt a thousand miles away

[Chorus]

Got those layoff blues

and a smile I can't afford

Gotta walk in strong

like I'm still the lord

of this little house

with the peeling paint door

Got those layoff blues

hiding in my jaw

Tell my baby and my wife

"Everything's alright"

when I know it ain't true at all

(oh, I'm holding, holding on)

With these layoff blues

and a front that’s bound to fall

[Verse 2]

Steering wheel shaking

knuckles turning white

Rehearsing in my head

how to dress this up light

"Downsizing, sweetheart

they said it's not me"

Like if I wrap it in sugar

she won't taste the grief

Driveway gravel

sounded loud under tires

Front porch light

buzzing over worn-out wires

Key in the lock

heartbeat tap in my chest

Thought, "Last time I came home

I still had a safety net"

She kissed my cheek

baby boy in her arms

Said, "How was your day?"

like the world wasn't harmed

I laughed too quick

said, "Same old, long"

She heard that crack

in my made-up song

[Chorus]

Got those layoff blues

and a smile I can't afford

Gotta walk in strong

like I'm still the lord

of this little house

with the peeling paint door

Got those layoff blues

hiding in my jaw

Tell my baby and my wife

"Everything's alright"

when I know it ain't true at all

(oh, I'm holding, holding on)

With these layoff blues

and a front that’s bound to fall

[Bridge]

Yeah

I’m a broke man

in a button-down costume

Carrying this cardboard coffin

through the living room

Baby boy giggles

reaches out for my face

Doesn't know I just lost

my place in the race

His fingers grab my thumb

like I'm some kind of giant

Tears start running

I can't keep 'em quiet

Turn my head quick

wipe 'em on my sleeve

Say, "Daddy just tired"

'cause he can't say, "Daddy can't breathe"

[Chorus]

Got those layoff blues

and a smile I can't afford

Gotta walk in strong

like I'm still the lord

of this little house

with the peeling paint door

Got those layoff blues

hiding in my jaw

Tell my baby and my wife

"Everything's alright"

when I know it ain't true at all

(yeah, I'm holding, holding on)

With these layoff blues

and a front that’s bound to fall

[Outro]

[Beat drops to bare bass and brushes, close-up vocal]

So I rock my son slow

kiss his soft, small head

Pray for a job

in a whisper I never said

to them

'Cause they need my strength

like a roof from the rain

And I’m bleeding on the inside

smiling through the pain

Style

rapsmoky minor-key blues band with male vocals; dusty upright piano and slide guitar under a slowswung groove. verses lean into spoken-word rap over a stripped kit and walking bassthen the chorus opens up with gravelly sung bluesorgan swellsand a distant gospel-style response. final section drops to near-whisperjust voicebassand brushesletting the hurt and tension sit in the air.bluesenglish

Prompt

Blues with rap. Singer went to work expecting to have a good day. Gets fired. Has to come home and tell his wife. He’s broken. Hopeless. Has to put in a front. Looks at his baby boy and cries.

Credits

Prompt by

ChazzTheSpazz

GeneratedMar 17, 2026

ModelZona