Ironhearted

Lyrics

[Intro] [Instrumental: tense strings build, distant brass, rising orchestral swell] [Chorus] Ironhearted, I was bent, never broke Held my ground when the whole room froze Turned that weight into steps on the road Now I walk in with the proof that I rose Ironhearted, hear the whole block call Took the hard days, made a wall, made it tall If I stumble, I get up, that's all I was built for the climb, not the fall [Verse 1] Mama kept a list by the kitchen phone Rent due Friday, still she made a home I learned real quick what a promise costs And how to find my way when the map got lost Had a thin coat, had a long bus ride Kept my head straight with the doubt outside Every closed door taught my hand to knock Every cold no put a spark in the walk I don't brag on pain, I just know what it taught Put a name to the fear, then I gave it no thought Now the same folks watching from the edge of the lot See me step through the pressure like it never had caught [Chorus] Ironhearted, I was bent, never broke Held my ground when the whole room froze Turned that weight into steps on the road Now I walk in with the proof that I rose Ironhearted, hear the whole block call Took the hard days, made a wall, made it tall If I stumble, I get up, that's all I was built for the climb, not the fall [Verse 2] No shortcut, no borrowed name Just a full tank heart and a steady flame When the plan fell through, I drew one more Made a workbench out of that basement floor Kept my word when the checks came late Kept my chin up at the county gate Saw my people need more than a speech So I brought back what I could reach Now the bass in the room hits deep like truth And I carry every lesson from the worn-out shoes I don't need their permission to make my move I was down, got wise, came back with proof [Break] [Spoken rap, stripped strings] Some nights I sat at that kitchen table after everybody went to bed. I could hear the refrigerator kick on, and the old clock count every minute I was afraid to waste. I kept thinking I had to feel fearless before I could take the next step. I didn't. I just had to take it anyway. [Final Chorus] Ironhearted, I was bent, never broke Held my ground when the whole room froze Turned that weight into steps on the road Now I walk in with the proof that I rose Ironhearted, hear the whole block call Took the hard days, made a wall, made it tall If I stumble, I get up, that's all I was built for the climb, not the fall [Outro] Ironhearted—still standing tall Built for the climb, not the fall