Raymond Livingston

He woke up in the morning, a tingle in his hand
Sunlight on the window, but he don’t understand
Why the world feels distant, voices fade away
He calls out for his daughter, but she don’t hear her name
He walks the empty sidewalks, sees the flowers by the street
A little boy is laughing, but never looks at him
He reaches out to comfort, but his hand just passes through
He’s got so much love to offer, but there’s nothing he can do

He’s still trying to give, though he’s gone from this town
Heart full of mercy, but he can’t lay it down
He saved a life that morning, gave all he had to give
Now he’s just a shadow, still trying to live

He remembers screeching tires, a mother’s desperate cry
He ran out in the traffic, never thought he’d die
He pushed the boy to safety, felt the world go black
Now he’s standing on the corner, but he can’t come back

He’s still trying to give, though he’s gone from this town
Heart full of mercy, but he can’t lay it down
He saved a life that morning, gave all he had to give
Now he’s just a shadow, still trying to live

If love could build a highway, he’d find his way back home
But he’s stuck between the silence and the things he can’t let go
He whispers to his family, but they just feel a chill
He’s the hero they remember, and he’s loving them still

He’s still trying to give, though he’s gone from this town
Heart full of mercy, but he can’t lay it down
He saved a life that morning, gave all he had to give
Now he’s just a shadow, still trying to live
Yeah, he’s just a shadow, still trying to give

Woke up spinning, another sunburned city dream
Vintage sneakers pounding on the concrete seams
A million faces weaving through the radio rain
Paint-stained hands, I’m chasing after yesterday’s train

Flip the script, crash the scene
Zero to a hundred like a movie reel
Color runs red, green, and gold
I’m taking off before the story’s told

Ride the waves, don’t look down
High above the static of this crowded town
Shout my name, through the haze
I’ll be flying by the window of your silver train

Everybody’s running for the next big fix
Neon jackets, pocket change, dirty tricks
Corner poet singing with a bottle of blue
Truth or dare, babe—I’m risking it all for you

Flip the script, crash the scene
Zero to a hundred like a movie reel
Crack the code on midnight roads
We’re lighting fires where nobody knows

Ride the waves, don’t look down
High above the static of this crowded town
Shout my name, through the haze
I’ll be flying by the window of your silver train

So take a picture, take your time
Every broken line’s a chance to shine
From the rooftops I’ll proclaim
Even in the noise, I will know your name

Ride the waves, don’t look down
High above the static of this crowded town
Shout my name, through the haze
I’ll be flying by the window of your silver train

I’ve been everything under the sun,
Or at least that’s what they say,
Carrying blame like a shadow,
It just won’t fade away.
Three daughters call me father,
But only two I get to see,
The third’s a distant memory,
A ghost that’s haunting me.

But I’ve got a heart big enough
For every soul on earth,
All I want is to give my love
And show them what they’re worth.
I’m tired of fighting demons,
Tired of living in the dark,
I just want to find some peace
And heal this broken heart.

I made a deal with the darkness,
Signed my name in pain,
Now I’m searching for forgiveness
In the pouring rain.
I want to give my family
A life without the stress,
To lift the weight that’s crushing them
And let them know they’re blessed.

But I’ve got a heart big enough
For every soul on earth,
All I want is to give my love
And show them what they’re worth.
I’m tired of fighting demons,
Tired of living in the dark,
I just want to find some peace
And heal this broken heart.

I want to hold my one and only
Without the earthquakes and the storms,
To feel the quiet comfort
Of a love that keeps me warm.
There’s still so much beauty
Hidden under all this pain,
If I could just break free
And dance in the sun again.

I see the world through teardrops,
But I know there’s light ahead,
If I can lay my burdens down
And let hope live instead.
I’ll keep reaching for my daughters,
I’ll keep fighting for my soul,
One day I’ll find forgiveness,
And finally feel whole.

‘Cause I’ve got a heart big enough
For every soul on earth,
All I want is to give my love
And show them what they’re worth.
I’m done with all these demons,
Done with living in the dark,
I just want to find some peace
And heal this broken heart.

Yeah, all I want is peace and love,
To heal this broken heart.

Lost my money, lost my way
Got the devil's hand, but I won't play
Thought about giving up, thought about running
But my girls' eyes, they're all I'm remembering.

I'm staying strong, ain't no storm
Can knock me down, I'm holding on
With every breath, I'll rise again
For my daughters, I'll never bend

In the mirror, I see their faces
Promises made, they're not fake
Gonna be there, gonna be real
Through thick and thin, we'll be free

Loved ones left, the road ahead
With a broken heart, but not dead
Every fall, I learn to stand
For them, I'll fight, no matter the land

I'm staying strong, ain't no wrong
With every step, I'll find my song
Through the night, through the day
For my daughters, I'll always stay

When midnight falls and doubts creep in
I hear their laughter in the wind
Hope shines bright when skies go grey
Their tiny arms lead my way

I’m more than scars, more than fear
Their voices turn pain into cheer
Every tear I wipe away
I remind them, love will stay

So if the world forgets my name
If fortune turns and I’m to blame
They’ll know I kept my vow unbroken
With every word my heart has spoken

I’m staying strong, no matter the cost
For them, no dream is ever lost
One day they'll learn, they'll see me through
I found my strength in loving you

Run, run from dusk till dawn,
No one left I can’t outrun,
Every battle I’ve faced, I’ve already won.
Hustle hard, I grind my way,
Never gonna trip, never lose my sway,
Keep on moving, keep the wolves at bay.
Brick by brick, I build it higher,
Blood in my hands, sweat on the wire,
Fear’s just fuel for the fire.
I will never bow down,
Not to the night, not to the crowd,
I’ve been lost but I’m still found,
I will never bow down.
Breaking chains, I raise the bar,
Push past the pain and the scars,
If they won’t give it, I’ll take it hard.
That’s my seat, my rightful place,
Hard as stone, you feel my grace,
If you step up, you better brace.

Lay it down and build it right,
Head of the table every night,
Seize the day, ignite the light.

I will never bow down,
Not to the night, not to the crowd,
I’ve been lost but I’m still found,
I will never bow down.

Pick the lock to hell’s front door,
Devil said, “Man, I can’t fight you no more,”
Ran to God like a tattle-tale freak,
Said, “Better warn the world, this one’s unique.”
I’ve danced with danger, rolled with fate,
Crossed some lines, yeah, some weren’t straight,
But I rose up, never too late.

I will never bow down,
[Oh no, no]
Not to the night, not to the crowd,
I’ve been lost but I’m still found,
I will never bow down…

When it’s all said and done,
And the fight’s been won,
I’ll smile through the scars,
For I never laid my weapon down.

Being me, you sit in fire,
Never giving up, I won't tire
From the struggles to the strife
I'll face it all, that's my life
I won't bow down to defeat
I'll rise up, stay on my feet
Never giving up, that's my game
I've got grit, I've got shame
I won't stop, I won't quit
I'll keep pushing, I won't sit
Life's a marathon, it ain't no race
I'll take it slow, at my own pace

I'll learn from my mistakes, take every step
And when I fall, I'll take a breath
I won't let obstacles block my path
I'll climb every mountain, do the math
People gonna hate, people gonna doubt
But I'll rise above, I won't pout
I'll prove them wrong, show them what's up
I'll keep going, I ain't giving up

Through the darkness, I find my spark
Lighting up hope when the world gets dark
Every scar's a story, every tear a song
I'm building strength, where I belong
Dreams may tremble, but they won't break
I’ll give my all, whatever it takes
With every sunrise, I start anew
Chasing the vision I know is true

When the silence screams and the night feels cold
I’ll stand my ground, fierce and bold
No storm can shake what’s deep inside
My spirit’s strong, I’ve got my pride

I'll strive for greatness, I'll reach my peak
And when I do, the world will see
I'm me, and I'll always fight
Never give up, that's my right
So listen up, and hear my plea
Never give up, just like me

So when you’re lost and feeling low
Remember how the brave ones grow
Stand tall, keep your head held high
Spread your wings, give life a try
Never give up, don’t let go
Let your courage always show

I've never been told no, making my heart ice cold.
Watch me run around like I'm back on my old high scores,
Words for the man I am,
Worse than my stiff right hand,
Give me coke and a bottle you'll know I'll make a plan.
I can make you crawl,
I can make you beg,
I can make you do anything that's in my head.
Theirs no model for anything I do, girl. I'm just no good for you.

These drugs and the whiskey keep me messing around on you,
These lines that I feed you are worse than the lines that I do.
I just get another round, hit another low, looking for a high, everywhere I go.
Ya, well, girl, you should leave me,
These women come easy, and drugs and the whiskey keep me messing around on you, around on you, around on you.

You know how these things work cause I am that kind of a man hold your hand, steal the plan then I'll escort myself out that front door, and right back to drinking, get a bottle fxxx a model ya just for the weekend.
I know I'm dirt,
I know my worth,
I know when I get home I still owe but it works.
I told you once before what I'll do, baby I'm no good for you.

These drugs and the whiskey keep me messing around on you.
These lines that I feed you are worse than the lines that I do.
I just get another round, hit another low, looking for a high, everywhere I go.
Ya, well, girl, you should leave me.
These women come easy, and drugs and the whiskey keep me messing around on you, around on you, around on you, around on you,
Messing around on you.

In the morning light, I see what I've become,
Broken promises pile high, like the damage I've done.
Your tears fall like rain, but I'm too numb to feel,
This poison in my veins is the only thing that's real.
I watch you trying to fix me, but baby don't you see?
The only thing I'm faithful to is my own misery.
I'll swear I'll change tomorrow, but we both know it ain't true,
I'm just a walking disaster, no good for you.

These drugs and the whiskey keep me messing around on you,
These lines that I feed you are worse than the lines that I do.
I just get another round, hit another low, looking for a high, everywhere I go.
Ya, well, girl, you should leave me,
These women come easy, and drugs and the whiskey keep me messing around on you, around on you, around on you.

What’s the price for the meaning of life?
Once, twice how many times must we bleed to survive?
Punished for breathing, cursed from the start,
Born in the shadows, with a hole in our hearts.
We wander these ruins, lost and alone,
Chasing a purpose we’re never shown.
Wake up screaming, sweat on my skin,
Nightmares whisper where the daylight’s been.
Haunted by echoes-are they mine or before?
Digging for answers in wounds that are sore.

So what’s the price for the meaning of life?
When you sell your soul just to feel alive?
You give your heart, your flesh, your fight,
Only to lose it all in the dead of night.
We’re just ghosts in a world built on borrowed time,
Paying for sins that were never mine.

Free will’s a circus, a cruel little game,
Whoever bleeds the most gets to wear the crown of shame.
They break every rule, they sin, and they lie,
Is victory just a mask for the tears we hide?

Let that sink in, let it poison your sleep,
Are we fools to believe we were built for peace?
Even if forever stretched under our skin,
We’d still tear it apart for a taste of sin.

So what’s the price for the meaning of life?
When you give your soul, your body, your heart in the fight,
Not to own, just to borrow what you sought,
Only to lose it all when your time is up.

Money, power, lust-the holy trinity of greed,
Turns angels to monsters, plants sorrow’s seed.
But I refuse to believe we’re just scars and pain,
We’re fragile, we’re broken, but we’re stars in the rain.

Every moment could be the last,
Friends and family-ghosts in the glass.
Will I mess up? Hell yes, I will,
But who really cares? We’re all climbing that hill.

So take what’s yours, and let the rest burn,
fxxx the judges, let the sinners learn.
Chains and labels-words we made,
Man-made prisons we can break.

So what’s the price for the meaning of life?
Is it pain, is it love, is it endless night?
We’re all just searching, we’re all just scars,
But in the darkness, we’re still shining stars.