HOPE

(album: HOPE - 2023)

Hope
I'm on my way, I'm coming
Don't, don't lose faith in me
I know you've been waiting
I know you've been praying for my soul
Hope, hope

Thirty years you been dragging your feet
Telling me I'm the reason we're stagnant
Thirty years you've been claiming you're honest
And promising progress, well where's it at?
I don't want you to feel like a failure (Failure)
I know this hurts (Hurts)
But I gave you your chance to deliver
Now it's my turn
Don't get me wrong, Nate you've had a great run
But it's time to give the people something different
So without further ado, I'd like to introduce my
My album, my album, my album, my album, my album, my album

Hope
What's my definition of success?
Listening to what your heart says
Standing up for what you know is
Right, while everybody else is
Tucking their tail between their legs (Okay)
What's my definition of success?
Creating something no one else can
Being brave enough to dream big
Grinding when you're told to just quit
Giving more when you got nothing left
It's a person that'll take a chance on
Something they were told could never happen
It's a person that can see the bright side through the dark times when there ain't one
It's when someone who ain't never had nothing
Ain't afraid to walk away from more profit
'Cause they'd rather do something that they really love and take the pay cut
It's a person that would never waver
Or change who they are
Just to try and gain some credibility
So they could feel accepted by a stranger
It's a person that can take the failures in their life and turn them into motivation
It's believing in yourself when no one else does, it's amazing
What a little bit of faith can do if you don't even believe in you
Why would you think or expect anybody else that's around you to?
I done did things that I regret
I done said things I can't take back
Was a lost soul at a crossroad who had no hope but I changed that
I spent years of my life holding on to things I never should've kept, full of hatred
Years of my life carrying a lot of baggage that I should've walked away from
Years of my life wishing I was someone different, looking for some validation
Years of my life tryna fill the void, pretending I was in—
They get it

Growing pain's a necessary evil
Difficult to go through, yes, but beneficial
Some would say having a mental breakdown is a negative thing which on one hand I agree with
On the other hand, it was the push I needed to get help and start the healing process, see
If I'd have never hit rock bottom
Would I be the person that I am today?
I don't believe so
I'm a prime example of what happens when you choose to not accept defeat and face your demons
Took me thirty years to realize that if you wanna get the opportunity to be the greatest version of yourself
Sometimes you got to be someone you're not to hear the voice of reason
Having kids will make you really take a step back and look in the mirror
At least for me that's what it did, I

Wake up every day and pick my son up
Hold him in my arms
And let him know he's loved (Loved)
Standing by the window questioning if dad is ever going to show up (Up)
Isn't something he's gon' have to worry 'bout
Don't get it twisted, that wasn't a shot
Mama I forgive you
I just don't want him to grow up thinking that he'll never be enough
Thirty years of running, thirty years of searching
Thirty years of hurting, thirty years of pain
Thirty years of fearful, thirty years of anger
Thirty years of empty, thirty years of shame
Thirty years of broken, thirty years of anguish
Thirty years of hopeless, thirty years of (hey)
Thirty years of never, thirty years of maybe
Thirty years of later, thirty years of fake
Thirty years of hollow, thirty years of sorrow
Thirty years of darkness, thirty years of (Nate)
Thirty years of baggage, thirty years of sadness
Thirty years of stagnant, thirty years of chains
Thirty years of anxious, thirty years of suffering
Thirty years of torment, thirty years of (wait)
Thirty years of bitter, thirty years of lonely
Thirty years of pushing everyone away
You'll never evolve, I know I can change
We are not enough, we are not the same
You don't have the heart, you don't have the strength
You don't have the will, you don't have the faith
You'll never be loved, you'll never be safe
Might as well give up, not running away
You don't have the guts, you're the one afraid
I'm the one in charge
I'm taking the— (No)
I'm taking the
Reins