“DON’T SAY NOTHIN”

“DON’T SAY NOTHIN” [Verse 1] Mama told me “keep it in,” I was seven, I listened Now I’m -35 n’, got a head full of tension Got a temper I be wrestlin’, suppressin’ aggression Every second feel like pressure turnin’ breaths into questions I don’t cry, I just sit there with a stare like I’m fine But my mind run a mile every second of time Got me grindin’ my teeth, feel it lock in my jaw I be one bad day from just poppin’ it off And I hate that— ‘Cause I know I ain’t built like that But I feel like somethin’ in me wanna tilt like that Like a switch get flipped and I don’t come back Then I wake up thinkin’, “I don’t wanna live like that” So I chill, bite my tongue, let it sit in my chest Every word I never said turn to weight on my neck They be sayin’ “just talk,” but they don’t understand When you open up once, they don’t look at you the same [Hook] So I don’t say nothin’, I just hold it inside Let it build, let it twist, let it eat me alive If I show one crack, they gon’ say I’m too weak So I smile through the pain every time that I speak I don’t say nothin’, I just play my role Keep it cool on the surface, let it rot my soul If I ever let it out, I don’t know what I’d do So I lock it all down like I’m supposed to [Verse 2] Had a homie back then, we was close like blood He was jokin’ all the time, never showed no mud Then he hit me one night, said he feelin’ real low I was busy, hit “later,” said I’d call him tomorrow Man, I swear that’s a moment I replay on loop ‘Cause tomorrow never came, they was sayin’ he’s gone Now I’m stuck with a text that I never sent back And a guilt so heavy got me bent in my tracks Now I get it— All the silence can kill All the “I’m alright” when you dyin’ for real All the pride, all the fear, all the lies that we build Turn a cry for some help to a permanent still So I’m talkin’ right now, even shakier voice If it come out wrong, then I’m makin’ that choice I’d rather look weak than be losin’ a life ‘Cause the strongest people be the ones that don’t fight [Hook] I won’t say nothin’—nah, I’m breakin’ that now If it hurt, let it hurt, I’ma say it out loud If I crack, let me crack, I ain’t hidin’ no more I’d rather bleed in the light than be numb at the core I won’t say nothin’—that was killin’ me slow Had to learn lettin’ go ain’t the same as bein’ broke If you feel what I’m sayin’, don’t bury it deep ‘Cause the silence get loud when you’re losin’ your sleep