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Spoken version
A recorded reading of “City Of Second Chances”. If the player does not load, use the original audio source.
Rope over rebar, knots like healed bones. Pawn shop clock blinks 12:07 forever. Fall or fly? Today we check our lines, swap “try” for “tie,” slant the rhyme. Alley cat sermons, buskers on Bay Three, a window with two lives in its glass. The city shrugs—alright then. We climb.
Alternative version
Rent’s a cliff; hope’s a rope—we knot and shoulder it. Bus card beeps—late again; vendor smoke; a thin sunrise. If I fall, I fall forward; if I bleed, I bleed brave. Fall— or— fly. Either way, I try. Second chances glow in the streetlight; I’m still here, so—go. Backroom shift, tired laugh; receipt stacks—cheap proof I came through. Friends on the corner sing my name. Don’t go quiet. Every closed door taught my hands where the handle sits. One for the nights I didn’t quit; two for the times I took the hit; three for the door I never saw—now I’m through it, lit. Fall or fly.
Lyrics
(Oh—) Rent’s a cliff, hope’s a rope, We knot tight, learn to cope. Corner kids with hungry eyes, Still we point at bigger skies. Bus card beep, late again, But I’m rich in “try” and “when.” Street vendor smoke and a sunrise grin, City says “pay”, I say “begin.” If I fall, I fall forward, If I bleed, I bleed brave. If the world keeps shifting prices, I keep finding ways to save My name, my breath, my steady spine— This place is hard, but it’s still mine. Fall— or— fly— Fall or fly, Either way I’m gonna try. Fall or fly, Watch me learn to touch the sky. Second chances in the streetlight glow, I’m still here, so the answer’s “go.” (Whoa-oh-oh) hands up high, (Whoa-oh-oh) fall or fly. Backroom shift and a tired laugh, Still I’m sprinting down my path. Receipt stack, cheap and thin, Still it proves I walked in. Friends on the corner singing out my name, Like “don’t go quiet, don’t go tame.” Every closed door taught my hands Where the handle is — where I stand. If I fall, I fall forward, If I bleed, I bleed brave. If the world keeps shifting prices, I keep finding ways to save My name, my breath, my steady spine— This place is hard, but it’s still mine. Say— it— Fall or fly, Either way I’m gonna try. Fall or fly, Watch me learn to touch the sky. Second chances in the streetlight glow, I’m still here, so the answer’s “go.” (Whoa-oh-oh) hands up high, (Whoa-oh-oh) fall or fly. (Count it out.) One for the nights I didn’t quit, Two for the times I took the hit. Three for the door I never saw, Now I’m walking through it raw. Now— Fall or fly… [Lead] Fall— [BVs] OR FLY! [Lead] Second— [BVs] CHANCES!
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