Ashes in My Veins

[Intro] [Verse 1] I learned the dark before I learned my name Raised where words were weapons, silence did the rest Learned early how to carry weight With nothing on my chest They said "be strong, don’t ask for much" So I swallowed every sound Built my spine from broken promises And learned to never fall down [Pre-Chorus] Every step I took was borrowed time Every breath was earned in fire [Chorus] I WALK WITH ASHES IN MY VEINS I BEND BUT I DON’T BREAK If this is the cost of staying alive Then I’ll carry the night I’ll carry the night [Verse 2] I watched the world trade truth for comfort Watched love turn into a test They asked for b***d, then called it duty And wondered why I never slept I lost my home, I lost my footing Lost people I believed But every scar became a chapter In the man I had to be [Pre-Chorus 2] I was never taught how to be free Only how to survive [Chorus] I WALK WITH ASHES IN MY VEINS I BEND BUT I DON’T BREAK I didn’t choose this road I’m on But I chose to stay I chose to stay [Bridge] If forgiveness is a door No one showed me where it was So I learned to live with open wounds And still call it love [Guitar Solo] [Final Chorus] I WALK WITH ASHES IN MY VEINS I STAND UNASHAMED If this world demands a price to breathe Then I pay in pain I pay in pain [Outro]