stRuggLe

(Ad-lib: “Mmm… yeahhh… uh huh…”)

Strugglin’…

Still breathin’…

But it’s hard out here…

⸻

Every day I wake up fightin’

Gotta smile through all the lyin’

Keep on movin’ through the fire

But inside, I’m so damn tired

(Ad-lib: “So tired… ohh—yeah”)

People say I’m lookin’ strong

But they don’t know what’s goin’ on

Holdin’ on with broken hands

Sinkin’ deep in movin’ sand

(Run: “Uhhh—uhhh—uhhhhhh”)

⸻

I been prayin’, I been bleedin’

Feelin’ lost without a meanin’

Tryna make a way

But the light keeps fadin’

(Ad-lib: “Don’t fade, don’t fade, don’t fade on me…”)

⸻

It’s a struggle — every step I take

Tryna breathe beneath this weight — oh no no

It’s a battle — and I’m fightin’ alone

But I won’t give in, even if I’m broke

It’s a struggle — yeah, yeah, yeah…

(Run: “Strugglin’ just to feel… aliveeeeee”)

Still I rise — still I try — still I cry…

(Ad-lib: “But I ain’t done — not yet, not yet!”)

⸻

I’ve been laughed at, I’ve been lost

Paid the price, I count the cost

They don’t see the war I wage

Just the smile I put on stage

(Run: “Ohhhh-uhhh-huhhh”)

They say time can heal the pain

But I still feel it when it rains

I been down, but not erased

Still got fire in my veins

(Ad-lib: “Still burnin’ — still hurtin’…”)

⸻

Let the wind take what it wants

Let the night scream through my lungs

I won’t break

I won’t fold

This pain’s a story I own

(Run: “Ooooooooh—yeahhhh—ahhhhhh”)

(Ad-lib: “I own it, I own it now!”)

⸻

It’s a struggle — but I’m standin’ tall

Even when I gotta crawl — yeah yeah yeahhh

It’s a battle — but I still believe

There’s a fight left inside of me — ohhh

It’s a struggle — strugglin’ for light

(Run: “Yeeeeaaaaahhhhhh”)

But I’ll make it through this night

Still I rise — still I cry — still I fight

(Ad-lib: “Still I breathe — still I believe!”)

*(Run: “Ooooh—ahhhh—uhhh-huhhh”)

⸻

Mmm… yeah

It’s a struggle…

But I’m still here…

(Whispered falsetto: “Still here… still fightin’…”)