Lyrics

The Man Who Never Lived

(UK Hip-Hop – Inspired by Dave’s Style: Deep, Reflective, Honest Storytelling)


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[Intro]

Yeah, you ever look in the mirror and feel like somethin’ missin’?
Like a piece of you got left in the past, yeah…
I never had a dad, but I swear I’ll be one.
This one’s for Nicholas and Jackson, for Samantha, too.
For every boy who had to teach himself…
Listen.


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[Verse 1]

Man, I grew up in a house full of echoes,
No deep voice tellin’ me how life goes,
Mum did her best, but it’s hard when you’re stressin’,
Tryna play both sides, like she split in two sections.

I used to stare at the door like he might step through,
But it stayed locked, man, the dreams stayed loose,
A boy needs a man just to show him the ropes,
But when the rope’s missin’, all you learn is to choke.

I watched my friends get checked by their pops,
Man-to-man talks, couple lessons, couple knocks,
Me? I had to piece it all together from the block,
Role models in the street, dodgin’ keys and the cops.

But it weren’t just me—I had Sam by my side,
Held it all down, put her dreams on the side,
When Mum weren’t there, she was fillin’ that space,
Givin’ out love that she barely embraced.

She was my rock, man, she carried that weight,
Had no right, but she still stepped up for my sake,
Gave me the strength that I use to this day,
And I swear down, I could never repay.





[Chorus]

He’s the man who never lived,
Ghost in the past, yeah, he vanished like mist,
Left me with a name but he ain’t give me fists,
So I had to grow strong with the pain in my ribs.

Yeah, the man who never lived,
Thought that he could leave but his shadow still exists,
I built my own path, now I’m standin’ in the midst,
No thanks to you, but I still handle my biz.


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[Verse 2]

Now I look at my sons, Nicholas and Jacks,
Two little kings, and I swear I got their backs,
I ain't got no blueprint, no lessons to trace,
But I give ‘em all the love that I never embraced.

Every hug, every laugh, every tear that they cry,
Every night that I’m home, tuck ‘em in, say goodnight,
I’m buildin’ what I needed, I ain’t runnin’ away,
I’m the man that I wished would’ve shown me the way.

I tell ‘em real men ain’t afraid to be kind,
Real strength ain’t in fists, it’s in heart, it’s in mind,
I teach ‘em respect, how to stand up strong,
How to never let the world tell ‘em they don’t belong.

I ain't perfect, bruv, I make mistakes,
But I show up every day, never takin’ no breaks,
I break cycles, I break chains,
No son of mine will ever feel this pain.
[Bridge]

I can’t hate him, ‘cause hate just drains,
But I can’t love him, ‘cause love don’t stay,
I just move on, build bricks, no shame,
Make sure my sons never feel this pain.

And Saman if I never said it clear before,
I know you sacrificed, I know your heart is sore,
I know you gave up things that were meant for you,
Just to keep me safe, just to get me through.

You ain't my mum, but you gave me love,
You ain't my dad, but you lift me up,