Concrete Jungle Rhythm
Morning bus breath, coffee on my sleeve Corner store light,
trying to believe
Everybody working with a weight in their grin I nod at the
ones who been where I been
Shoes on the wire,
kids playing tag Old head preaching from a paper bag Bills in
my pocket like they got teeth Still I walk steady,
still I keep peace Sirens far off,
then the quiet comes back Whole block speaking in a code we
unpack I learned quick: pride don’t pay the rent So I stack
small wins, every cent If I fall,
I fall forward, not flat If I hurt,
I don’t hand it right back Street life,
it can raise you up or wear you thin
Hold tight, keep your name clean in the wind
One step, then another,
let the night pass by I’m still here,
I’m still here, I’m still trying
Street life, street life,
we don’t fold
Same sun, different shade,
different cold I keep love in my chest,
keep hope in my hands Trying to make a home on borrowed
land Street life, street life,
hear that drum
Every block got a song where I’m from Late shift glow on
the glass of the train Some folks numb,
some praying through the rain A friend of mine said,
“Man, don’t get stuck,” So I wrote down dreams in the margins
of luck
Couple bad nights, but I won’t call it cursed I seen good
hearts break, then rehearse
We share one bench,
but not the same view Still I make room,
still I make do
Mama said, “Boy, let your temper be small,” So I breathe out
slow when I’m up against the wall I don’t need a crown,
I don’t need a fight
Just a little calm and a key to the light
If you know this road,
you know the cost Names on the mural,
moments we lost But we laugh anyway,
on the stoop, on the stairs Small joys survive like weeds through
cracks
Street life, street life,
we don’t fold Same sun,
different shade, different cold
I keep love in my chest,
keep hope in my hands Trying to make a home on borrowed
land Street life, street life,
hear that drum
Every block got a song where I’m from
Street life, keep me
kind Street life,
clear
my
mind