Alicia Keys
Three hour drive
[Intro: Jordan Cortez and Sampha]
Yeah (You give me life)
Woo (You give me)

[Verse 1: Jordan Cortez]
Pieces of hail kissing the Michelin windshield
A three hour drive from my hometown to Wentzville
Don’t talk to me like I don’t know how car notes or rent feels
I had to wing being this hot, my tongue never sipped milk
As if I wasn’t blocked enough, you wanna be friends still?
Nineteen new Insta reels? They might give you Systrom’s deal
I’m hardheaded, I wanna iron-work ‘til my city built
Ironic, since I ain’t outside throwing dirt or sitting still
The process is so surreal
You downg-
Mm, on another note, I’ll savе my breath
On a half step, my walk with God might actually take a stеp
He like a bad ref, by His stripes I’ll never lose again
That part when people who dipped on you drown in that same pool they swim
Fortunately, my truest win is to forgive
From suicide attempts to boarding with the hooligans
To Oakland, fresh off that flight from Lennox
Pursuing life to live it, and not just to find a living
Or seeing just how sharp that knife is in your momma’s kitchen
‘Cause with each swiped card in LA, those women get heightened interest
But yours is back home, going every night without attention
I can only pray those cries have lifted
And stray far away from that rapper who just rhymed to fit in
Pride was talking, as a backsliding Christian, O had told me “boy, you kinda sinning”
Now I don’t need no Audemars Piguet to know my clock is ticking
‘Specially with no pot to piss in
Pushing P won’t get y’all streams no more, we used to stop and listen
Now we know your diamonds hit, your top is missing
What ways can I charge up on you that’s not for business?
Or merchandise sales, tour dates and psychophysics
‘Cause it hurt to watch Kanye lost without Donda, didn’t it?
[Chorus: Jordan Cortez and Alicia Keys]
I can’t deny
As hard as I try
That you give me life
You give me life (Yeah)
I can’t deny (I’m on the road)
As hard as I try (Going nowhere)
That you give me life (Oh, I got the time now)
You give me life (Yeah)
I can’t deny (Look)

[Verse 2: Jordan Cortez]
Sometimes I question if there really is a God above
Who split the sea apart and gave us His begotten son
I wrote this bar, then overheard some n***as poppin’ guns
So when I notice bulletproof-y hearts, I’m not to judge
I wonder ‘bout folks abused by other folks who called it love
I wonder how Robert was, I wonder how Dahmer was
Before introduced to trauma’s hug
I wonder how dying feels when n***as who crip catch sight of blood
Bet it’s not pretty in the slightest
Can’t act like my city getting bias, we in America
The piggies, they hammered up, the streets could riot
People ain’t praying enough, the energy cellular, it’s just our science
Maybe I’m Jon in the problem
Blame what I eat on Joe and not what I’m bitin’ on daily, it’s crazy
Taking my part out my mind like some old braiding, just maybe
I’m too caught between sold units and sold saving
I hate the way it sound, counting cash
Driving past somebody who breathless on the ground, counting his last
We park our whips outside the studio downtown, hop out and laugh
It made me think: Why even try to try to reach the folks that I can’t grab?
Why even try to teach a rapper who kinda boastful when he brag?
Who gon’ relate? Who on your throne? The God of Moses? Or his staff?
Shoutout Lecrae
I’m told to go, into these broken homes, I’m broken too
The only hope I know is you, and not my own, not the flows
R-I-double-A platinum songs, or Grammy shows
Feel like I’m bitter hearing this so-called Christian rap
Snatch this whole generation to match its mold
I can’t fake like my trash is gone, it still stink
And just watchin’ all of my heroes beef is like being a fly on the wall
Tired of y'all using yo platform to converse and write off a star
Bringing ‘em down like yo feet is God sized, and they soul ain’t higher
Than y’all’s
I pray Yahweh never did that
‘Cause if that’s the faith, it ain’t no God for people for peddlin’ back
And thinking this thing all about a prize, and they seein’ heaven in that
I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, I’m bumping Reckless Love
My verdict is: Try my hardest not to burn this bridge
Between a father and His hurting kids, in hopes they try to, one day, turn their ears over
I know they wan’ heal, like tiptoers
They stick to me close, like lint rollers
Now I’m on the clock, can’t disown ‘em
I need all my children raised, and the village paid
With some riches saved, they can take it with ‘em when they slip the grave
And that’s real, n***a
[Bridge: Jordan Cortez & Sampha]
Yeah
Yeah
Tss, tss, tss, tss
Let it ride
Yeah (You give me life)
(You give me)
Life

[Verse 3: Jordan Cortez]
Put them preconceived expressions away
I’m a exit away, I’m a record away, girl, I’m back
Yeah
My candle lit, and you a death wish away
Don’t be breathless today, won’t you test us today?
Girl, I rap (rap)
Three hour drive, on and off the road
Still shoving demons off from one years old
Even Jesus couldn’t hold his cross alone
I fumble benjamin, family, chains, abandoning fame, exes, relationship
Manning a stage, they wanted me stretched, I still ain’t got checked like I’m barely paid
Nuh-uh
Nah, now
I’m just an averages law breaker, still out here breaking the laws down
He went and found me some salvation
So then, I should do my part
Will I play my part?
I must do my part now
We outside in the flesh with a bone to pick, come out ya doghouse
Even now, looking back, I can’t hide the bruises
Tryna blame an environment I was choosing
Wake up, shower, eat something, body movement
Still, my soul was cold as three degrees
Oh well, the life of a college student
But just like a nerd in private schooling
I’m charged, charged, charged up now, n***a but this battery was not included
Yeah, Lucey, Nolan, Landon, Twlv, Mabry, they was first here
Still hoping O and Jake show up on them church stairs
‘Cause letting my future alone scare me is my worst fear
Just say a prayer for me ‘fore I fall back in the dirt