Back To My Side

[Intro]
They told me
"Boy, don't rock that boat"
But this boat raised me
I ain’t lettin’ go (nah)
[Verse 1]
They like, "Calm down, you too proud"
Say my skin too loud
Till the culture get cool
Then they pass it around
Wanna dap me in the boardroom
Turn ghost in the crowd
Wanna post my pain
But don’t stand when it counts
They like the slang, hate the struggle
Quote the quotes, skip the trouble
Tryna cherry-pick the flowers
From a field we had to double
Say, "Smile more, you made it"
While my cousin’s fightin’ cases
You don’t get to love my rhythm
And erase my faces
[Chorus]
You want me to turn my back
On where I come from, who I am (nah)
But I know the man I wanna be
The one who never left his fam
I remember every porch, every hand
Every name they said out loud was "can’t"
I’m the one who came up, still standin’
I’m the one who never left my side of the fence (yeah)
[Verse 2]
You like, "Why you always talk race?"
’Cause I still see it in my brother’s court case
’Cause my mama still flinch when she see blue lights
’Cause my uncle still cough from that late-night chase
You clap for my wins, but you crop out my roots
Buy my style off a shelf, but don’t honor the truth
You love the slang, but not the school lunch lines
Love the shine, not the overtime
I was raised on "look back when you climb"
On big hands showin’ me how to tie that line
On prayers in a room with the blinds all drawn
On "love who you are when the world feel wrong"
[Chorus]
You want me to turn my back
On where I come from, who I am (who I am)
But I know the man I wanna be
The one who never left his fam (never did)
I remember every porch, every hand
Every name they said out loud was "can’t"
I’m the one who came up, still standin’
I’m the one who never left my side of the fence (never left it)
[Bridge]
If I switch up now, who gon’ tell our story? (who?)
Who gon’ pour back love, who gon’ guard that glory?
If I dim my shine just to sit at your table
Who gon’ hold my seat
Back home when I’m able?
[Chorus]
You want me to turn my back
On where I come from, who I am
But I know the man I wanna be
The one who never left his fam (yeah)
I remember every porch, every hand
Every time the world said "you ain’t"
I’m the one who came up, still standin’
I’m the one who never left my side of the fence (still here)

rap, Southern half-raspy male rap vocals over hazy blues guitar loop and thick, head-nod drums; verses stay close and confessional with subtle organ swells, hook opens wider with stacked chant vocals and sub-heavy bass. Ad-libs echo in the gaps, final chorus strips to guitar and voice for a grounded, proud outro.