[Intro]
Yeah
Hold on

[Verse 1 – A/B]
Stayin' fresh when it gets so dirty
Strange bird from Africa, caged in America
Mama come in court waitin' on that verdict
Ran ecstatic like a leopard, they don’t get the message
Vision of that casket got her so hurtin'
Misunderstood as the foreigner, “quote unquote” average Joe
Mind of an oracle, what you hatin’ for?
I'm steady creatin' though, why is you waitin', bro?
The time is now, and um—

This is what I've seen, why these thoughts so pertinent
Stay cool through it all, stay fresh through it all
Stay blessed through it all, cross your morals
I'm guaranteed you destined to fall
I put my wins in these bars, I put my L's in 'em too
I learned the rules of the game and I respected 'em too
But now I'm ready to break 'em, what you expect me to do?

[Pre-Chorus – B]
They try to write me off, but I'm still writin' on
I turn my pain to songs, help the quiet feel strong
Every bar they built, I bend until it's gone
You can't stop the dawn, I rise, I move on

[Hook – A/B]
Why, stayin' fresh through it all? (Huh)
From the cage to the sky, I’m soaring
Yeah
Every wound in my past, still roaring
Why, stayin' fresh through it all, baby?
Can’t hold me down, no borders, no walls
Strange bird sings loud, hear the call

[Verse 2 – A/B]
Callin' me about mess, bro, I'm rejectin' the call
This n***a still stayin' still and they acceptin' the stall
I'm not respectin' the stall, it's not respected at all
Keep goin', keep growin', keep your chin to the stars

Raised on resistance, fluent in struggle
Dreams in my fist, can't burst my bubble
They said “fall in line,” I don't march the same
I built my own fire, I carved my own name
History heavy, still my spirit stays wild
Plantin' seeds for tomorrow, watch the future smile

I put my wins in these bars, I put my L's in 'em too
J for sho' been a P and brought the L's with him too
Fuck an election, I'm tryna make sure my section evolve
From the ground to the stage, from the silence to sound
Strange bird flies higher, wings never touch down

[Bridge – B / Ad-libs A]
What you fear, I embrace (yeah), what you doubt, I create
What you cage, I escape, I was born to innovate
If the door don’t open, I’m makin’ a way (keep goin’)
If the path ain’t paved, I’m shapin’ the clay

[Final Hook – Tight Blend]
From the cage to the sky, I’m soaring
Stayin' fresh when it gets so dirty
Every wound in my past, still roaring
Stay blessed through it all, keep your chin to the stars
Can’t hold me down, no borders, no walls
I'm turnin' pain into songs, breakin' every bar
Strange bird sings loud, hear the call
Why, stayin’ fresh through it all? (Huh)

[Outro]
You can’t stop the dawn, I rise, I move on
Stay fresh through it all, then we all evolve