MUSIC FOR SALE

Hand me down shoes
Hole in the sole
I remember that
Mama counting quarters
On a torn off laundromat mat

Posters on dry wall
Dreams taped up
Where the paint peeled

Singing to the ceiling
Like one day
I’ll make this real

They said be realistic
I said you can’t afford my hope
Nights I almost quit it
But my hunger pulled the rope

Now the labels on the line
Pen on the page
Name in the ink
Like it broke out the cage

Hear my song on the radio
Volume all the way
Laughing through the tears
Like we really made a way

Every NO I ever heard
Turning into proof
From the back of the bus
To the front of the booth

Turn it up
Let the whole block sing it too
Through the tears, through the work
Dreams do come true, oh yeah

Cracked phone
Cracked screen
Still, I played my roughs all day

Neighbors bang the ceiling
Then, they stopped
Just listened to the play

Couch turned to a vocal booth
Closet turned to stage lights
I was rich in every chorus
Broke in every late night

They said, find something stable
I said, watch me build my ground
Every time they changed the station
I just turned my voice up louder in my town

Now the labels on the line
Pen on the page
Name in the ink
Like it broke out the cage

Hear my song on the radio
Volume all the way
Laughing through the tears
Like we really made a way

Every NO I ever heard
Turning into proof
From the back of the bus
To the front of the booth

Turn it up
Let the whole block sing it too
Through the tears
Through the work
Dreams do come true, oh yeah

First time that hook hit the airwaves
Mama called, couldn’t even talk straight
Just breathing, just crying
Just say my name, my name

I remember ramen on the hot plate
Now I’m feeding every kid
On that same block gate
Turn my past into praise

Now the labels on the line
Pen on the page
Name in the ink
Like it broke out the cage

Hear my song on the radio
Volume all the way
Laughing through the tears
Like we really made a way

Every NO I ever heard
Turning into proof
From the back of the bus
To the front of the booth

Turn it up
Let the whole block sing it too
Through the tears
Through the work
Dreams do come true, oh yeah

From the dirt
From the hurt
Look at me
I’m living proof