Been Afraid

[Intro: Sampled]

[?]

I been afraid...

[Verse]

Yeah, million-dollar baby girl in the lower-middle class

With a Maglite right beneath her pillow

And no, she's never been a boxer by choice

She's known to act oak, he'll never catch her a willow, nuh-uh

She the calm type, you see the small scars

Creeping down her arm, peeking from her rolled sleeves, right?

She keeps him weak in the knees but she out stay out of sight

And when that school bell rings, it's goodnight

Or might as well be, he never sees her around

But he looks, for weeks now he's been maybe tomorrow

But he's shook, he sees them bruises and he needs to please her

Plus he don't wanna go home either, gives her a look

They pass, copies down a poem from a schoolbook

Gives it to her after hesitation, whoops his ass

She took it fast, lost like all sensation in her hands

Then braces herself gracefully, sturdy where she stands

On some humble mumbling, pass the words, fumbling

Nothing discouraging, just nerves, drumming up the courage

Something bout skylines or bike rides or riverbeds

Something, something that he read

It caught her right beneath the armor

Cauterized thought of any blunt forced trauma

Ain't no way that he could harm her

[Hook]

When the curse leave a shell like a snake with fresh scales

Some people seem to call that home, but some souls roam

Keep riding till the cycle is broke

We ain't got to go through nothing alone

When the curse leave a shell like a snake with fresh scales

Some people seem to call that home, but some souls roam

Keep riding till the cycle is broke

We ain't got to go through nothing alone

[Verse]

She's in the weather, the whole storm

Hugging on her prince, his hands to skin warm

Quick out the door, no note, no forlorn

Cause all they heard was "Papa don't hit me no more"

But they couldn't seem to keep the swelling down

How they regretting ever letting out this third child born

But things are getting better now, yeah cozy sweater now

With her thumbs through the holes in her sleeves worn down

And the boy similar, noise minimal, toy criminal

Joy simple when someone's found it in you

Somehow it boost the individual, that bluish hue is mutual

They make love gently, so aware of each other's bruises

And sorta scared they can lose this

Trust, bury the blues somewhere it won't bear roots

But is this boy where the truth is?

She's spooked, see fruit never seem to fall far from the useless

Branch that it's attached to

And quacks say if he's beat up, he's bound to smack you

She's down to step back now, if he ever got loud

She couldn't be proud of whatever she might do

But it's the first time she ever felt touch

That didn't bring her to hush like something was being done to her

That unscrews her, she loosens with the booze

Her hinge can stay bent addressing her dude's wounds

Regressing to bedrooms where fools ignored "don't"

He's not one of them tools that screws, nuts and bolts

And she know that. (She know that) and she know that

But she holds back and she hope that he see the way she flinch

Cause it's knee-jerk to brace for attack

Even if he's only rubbing her back

I mean, and even if it's like the deck has been stacked

It's not an act, he's really loving her back (hold your heart up)

[Bridge]

Never raise your hand, she says that with a grownup's voice

I'm yours now, just like a child

Please don't be scared now, it clicks

A piece finally fits, I love you

They said that with their lips

Never raise your hand, he says that with a grownup's voice

I'm yours now, just like a child

Please don't be scared now, it clicks

A piece finally fits, I love you

[Hook]

When the curse leave a shell like a snake with fresh scales

(Never raise your hand, she says that with a grownup's voice)

Some people seem to call that home, but some souls roam

(I'm yours now, just like a child)

Keep riding till the cycle is broke

(Please don't be scared now, it clicks)

We ain't got to go through nothing alone

(A piece finally fits, I love you)

When the curse leave a shell like a snake with fresh scales

Some people seem to call that home, but some souls roam

Keep riding till the cycle is broke

We ain't got to go through nothing alone