Kleines Licht, großer Schatten

[Intro – leise] Yeah Mm This for you Both of you [Verse 1] Tiny fingers round my thumb, 3 a.m., no sleep (no sleep) Cartoons humming from the laptop, bottle on the seat I was driving with one hand, future on the dash Bank card overdrawn, but the time went fast Your brother in the back with a superhero cape on Cereal in a sandwich bag, we were way gone Mama in the doorway, quiet with the lights low Said, "You can stay tonight," but we both know— I was half-grown, tryna play whole man Breaking in my sneakers just to raise y'all, no plan Missed calls from the label, couldn't take that flight Chose a blanket on the floor over bright stage lights You were tracing on my arm, all your little daydreams Turned my scars into clouds, said they look like streams You laughed when my hands shook pouring out the juice You ain't know what that meant, just thought it was cute [Pre-Chorus] Every bruise on my name, I don't hide it from you Every crack in this voice, it's a promise that's true If the roof ever leaks, let it fall on me If the world ever screams, you ain't gonna see [Chorus – laut] Hold on to my shirt when the wind gets loud You don't gotta know why, you don't need that now If the night feels long and the rooms feel cold I'll be right here, getting tired, not old If the sky looks heavy and the streets look rough Put your hand in mine when you’ve had enough I can't fix it all, but I swear one thing: You will never miss my voice when it’s time to sing [Verse 2] Remember when the cops flashed red on the glass? You were coloring a sun on your little paper mask They asked me for my name like they knew my sins I stood still, saw your eyes, I just thought of you and him Told ‘em, "I got two in the back, man, lower that tone" They stepped off a little ‘cause I stood like stone I was shaking in my shoes, tried to laugh it away You just asked if the lights meant somebody had a birthday Your brother lost a tooth in the kitchen one fall Blood on his T-shirt, writing on the wall "Papa's house" in stick names, crooked little hearts I was scrubbing off the pen, didn't touch those parts I been late with the rent, early with the fear Never late with the call when you needed me here I don't lie about the past, I just leave it in the rear But I keep that one photo: you asleep in the chair with my beer [Pre-Chorus] All the weight that I carry, I don't pass it to you You don't owe me for love, you don't pay that due If the glass ever breaks, let it cut my feet If the blame gets thrown, let it hit my seat [Chorus – laut] Hold on to my shirt when the wind gets loud You don't gotta know why, you don't need that now If the night feels long and the rooms feel cold I'll be right here, getting tired, not old If the sky looks heavy and the streets look rough Put your hand in mine when you’ve had enough I can't fix it all, but I swear one thing: You will never miss my voice when it’s time to sing [Rap-Part – Verse 3] You were five when you asked me, "Did you love her at all?" I took a breath so deep it shook paint off the wall Said, "We were kids with a match in a dry field, son Sometimes love is just ashes and you still gotta run" But I watched how you watched every word from my mouth Like the way that I talk could map your whole route So I edit how I curse when the team's playing bad ‘Cause I know one day you're gonna argue like your dad I got nights that I wish you ain't see me that broke Clutching on the counter for a last pack of smokes You were tugging on my jeans, said, "We don't need more fire We got candles from my cake, we can use those, sire" You knighted me with toys, called me king of the chair I was kingdom of dust, you ain't notice or care Only throne that I needed was your laugh on my chest Every cheap little hoodie was a bulletproof vest You a mirror and a map, you reflect, you lead You remind me what's real when I drown in the feed Your sister with her headphones, drawing on her knees Turns the fight in my head to a quiet little breeze I been wrong, I been loud, I been running from me But you show me a road where it costs nothing to be When the world gets mean and my past gets near I rewind to the moment you first called me "here" [Bridge – flüsternd] If my hands grow tired, don't you carry my blame If my voice runs dry, still I'll say your name When I'm small in my mind, you look ten feet tall If I ever let go, may you never fall [Bridge – laut, steigern] If the day turns long and the bills stack high If the floor feels thin and the good days shy I will stand in the door when the storm comes in Let it hit my face, not your soft young skin If my past shows up with a loaded tongue Let it talk to me, not my daughter, not my son [Chorus – laut, variierte Melodie] So hold on to my shirt when the wind gets loud You don't gotta know why, you don't need that now If the night feels long and the rooms feel cold I'll be right here, getting tired, not old If the sky looks heavy and the streets look rough Put your hand in mine when you’ve had enough I can't fix it all, but I swear one thing: You will never miss my voice when it’s time to sing [Outro – leise] If I stumble on the way, I won't drop your hands If my story comes apart, you won't lose your plans Every scar that I got, I just turn to light So you see your own face when you sleep at night And if all I can give is this worn-out spine Then I’ll bend, I’ll break, just to keep you in line You ain't asked to be here, that was all my choice So until I'm gone, you will have my voice…