Half a Man Video (MV)

They say, Man up, don't you cry
But I'm caught in a world that just wants me to die
Paycheck to paycheck, soul on the line
Trading hours for pennies, tryna' to survive
Done with the filters, sick of the gloss
Fighting this war while they count my loss
Every post, every scene, it's all a game
While I'm left to shoulder the weight and the blame
I'm not the villain, I'm not the past
But they treat me like I'm built to crash
All I want is a shot, a way to prove
That there's more in me, something to lose
But they trap me here in a constant grind
Tell me "man up," but never mind
The dreams I have, the goals I chase
In a world that's quick to erase my face
Society speaks, tells me what to be
Strong, silent, a mystery
But how can I be what they say's not real
How can I grow when they don't let me feel
Drowning in a world that won't let go
Locked in a cycle, running this show
Perfect images in perfect frames
While I'm out here strugglin' to claim my name
Tired of the masks, tired of the game
The world sees me but won't say my name
Told to stand tall, no ground below
Just shadows I chase, nowhere to go
I'm more than a screen, more than a frame
Not a number to count or a face to shame
Give me a chance, just one open the door
I'll show you the fight that I'm ready for
I'm f*ckin' ready
I'm not the enemy
Just want to live, to finally see
Look at the screen, see the perfect lives
Polished, posed, their perfect lies
Fighting each day just to stay alive
And chasing a dream that's barely survived
Tell me I'm weak, tell me I'm lost
I carry this weight, I bear this cost
A system that's built to watch me fall
But I'll break through, I'll shatter the wall
They show me numbers, charts, and the lines
Say GDP's high, but we're doing fine
Those digits don't feel like food on my plate
A break from the weight of carrying this fate
They tell me to hustle, to push and to strive
But youth unemployment's swallowing lives
Did what I was told, took every chance
Now I'm stuck in place, just can't advance
I'm done with their numbers, done with the lies
Told to keep reaching, but the ladder's too high
They brag about growth, say we're moving fast
But I'm stuck in the shadow of a system's past
Overqualified and left behind
Degrees collecting dust, dreams redefined
Told me to hustle, to fall into line
But I'm left with scraps, no peace of mind
I'm f*ckin' ready
I'm not the enemy
Just want to live, to finally see
I don't have the answers, don't know the way
I believe in a future, we won't fade away
If we stand together, break down these walls
Maybe we'll find the strength to rise above it all
They point the finger, they lay the blame
Say young men are broken, bringing shame
But we're just the product of a world gone cold
Taught to be strong but left in the mold
Costs keep climbing, can't catch a break
Living to work, that's the only stake
No time to breathe, no chance to roam
Chained to the job, can't call it home
They say, Life's good, if you just get through
I'm tired of living with nothing new
No time to travel, no time to feel
Just punching the clock in a cycle of steel
Working till death, till I'm worn and gray
A life lived small in a big display
They flaunt their lives, say I'll get mine
But I'm done waiting, I'll cross the line