Paid My Dues
by NF

Album: CLOUDS (THE MIXTAPE) (2019)
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  • Clicks, clicks, clicks, they'll do anything to get a few
    Tick, tick, tick, that's the sound before my head explodes
    Quit, quit, quit, look at you up on your pedestal
    Quick, quick, quick, here the critics come, it's time to go

    I read your article, it kinda hurt me
    I don't know who hired you
    Or what your friends say in your circle
    But the fact that you released it
    Tells me two things are for certain
    They get paid for trashing people
    I get paid 'cause I stay working

    Dropped 'The Search' and
    They emerge up outta nowhere
    To the surface, just to peep behind the curtain
    Throwing salt at all my burdens
    I'm aware I shouldn't give this my attention
    Life's a journey, I should just stay on my path
    And learn to laugh, you think they heard me?
    Ears are burning, put 'em out
    Quiet, quiet, look around
    Why don't they find someone way more
    Interesting to write about?
    Us, we're kinda boring, aren't we?
    All we do is whine and pout
    It's confusing, so amusing
    How I argue with myself

    Hello
    I spit it was ease so leave it to me
    Doubted, but you better believe
    I'm on a rampage, hit 'em, with the record release
    Depending the week, I'm probably gonna have to achieve
    Another goal, let me go and I'm over the beat
    I go into beast mode like I'm ready to feast
    I'm fed up with these thieves tryna get me to bleed
    They wanna see me take an L, yep, see what I mean?
    How many records I gotta give you to get with the program?
    Take it for granted, I'm 'bout to give you the whole plan
    Open your mind up and take a look at the blueprint
    Debate if you gotta, but gotta hold it with both hands
    Pick at the bars, you gotta be smart
    You really gotta dig in your heart
    If you wanna get to the root of an issue
    Plus I'm in the middle, could be dark and be difficult
    But they pay off at the end if it can help you to get to it, ayy

    Paid my dues, made it through
    Spread the news, I'm on the loose
    Making moves, I need some room
    Though he's cool, well, don't assume, don't assume, ayy

    I'm the truth, oh, they want some proof? Here, don't be rude
    Something new, even when I lose, I make it look cool
    Do the show, then we hit the room, wife is looking, oh
    What to do? I don't need the shades up to like the view

    Yeah
    It's time to get back in the swing of things
    When my life crashes, I'm not the guy that'll flee the scene
    I'll take ownership and own it and raise my hand if it's me
    Just remember though, I'm only a man, I'm a human being
    Don't the see, shoot the breeze I'd rather just stay discrete
    People claim they're in your corner but leave you in times of need
    They don't listen do they? (what?) They don't listen to anything
    I'll accept advice if it's not presented ignorantly

    Look, costs are high, they multiply
    They cause divides and force the fight
    The poison I been sipping on has quite the bite
    It killed me twice, they rigged the lights
    So y'all could see the parts of mine that aren't so bright
    See, often I apologize and authorize the awful times
    That pop up (Nate) like I'm right behind you
    I'd advise you not to try and climb inside the mind like I do
    Keep the rhyme book expedited, overnight it
    Hold the tide in, hope the time is on my side
    'Cause if it's not then I'll decide to override my own demise
    I toe the line too close and I can improvise and empathize
    But recognize the fact that I could jeopardize and wreck our lives
    You better give me your attention, the undivided

    Paid my dues, made it through
    Spread the news, I'm on the loose
    Making moves, I need some room
    Though he's cool, well, don't assume, don't assume, ayy

    Paid my dues, made it through
    Spread the news, I'm on the loose
    Making moves, I need some room
    Though he's cool, well, don't assume, don't assume, ayy Writer/s: Cole Edward Walowac, Nate Feuerstein, Tommee Profitt
    Publisher: Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

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