[Intro]
Yo, dust on the vinyl, crackle in the groove,
Time’s a heavy hand, watch how it move.
Pen’s my cane, I scribble through the haze,
Life’s a long verse, countin’ down the days.
[Verse 1 - AABB]
Crease in my kicks, gray in my beard,
Mirror shows a stranger, man, life’s gettin’ weird.
Used to chase the cypher, now I chase my breath,
Clock’s tickin’ louder, shadow of death.
Joints ache, but the soul still sparks,
Memories in my bars, like scars in the dark.
Old tapes in the crate, they hum my youth,
Now I’m spittin’ wisdom, raw, uncut truth.
Kids call me OG, but I’m just me,
Carved my name in the game, etched in graffiti.
Back when we rocked shells, no need for a screen,
Now the world’s a blur, trapped in a meme.
[Chorus]
Time don’t stop, it’s a one-way ride,
Wrinkles on my face, but the fire’s inside.
Hold the mic close, let the stories unfold,
Gettin’ old, but my heart stays gold.
[Verse 2 - ABAB]
Knees creak like floorboards, steps feel slow,
But my mind’s a vault, where the classics glow.
Used to dodge the opps, now I dodge the pain,
Pills in the cabinet, forecastin’ rain.
Young cats flex, but they don’t know the cost,
Every scar’s a tale, every win came with loss.
I school ‘em with bars, like a sensei’s code,
Pen’s my katana, slicin’ through the old.
See the game’s changed, streams over wax,
But I still lace tracks with the soul intact.
They chase clout, I chase peace in my dome,
Build a legacy strong, call it home.
[Break - Spoken Interlude]
Man… sittin’ on the stoop, watchin’ kids play.
They got no clue what’s comin’.
Time’s a thief, but it leaves you with truth.
You just gotta keep spittin’ it.
[Verse 3 - AABBCC]
Old school heart, but the vibe’s new wave,
Blend the grit with the shine, like a renegade.
Tape deck dreams, now they stream my pain,
But the hunger’s the same, still fuelin’ my brain.
Got a wife, got a life, got bills on the stack,
But the booth’s my escape, where I’m bringin’ it back.
Crow’s feet deep, but my eyes still gleam,
Chasin’ that feeling, livin’ in a dream.
Used to rock the park, now I rock the pen,
Every rhyme’s a brick, buildin’ now to then.
They say age kills the spark, but I’m proof it’s a lie,
Soul’s eternal flame, burnin’ ‘til I die.
[Chorus]
Time don’t stop, it’s a one-way ride,
Wrinkles on my face, but the fire’s inside.
Hold the mic close, let the stories unfold,
Gettin’ old, but my heart stays gold.
[Verse 4 - ABBA]
Reflections in the glass, see my father’s face,
Time’s a relay race, passin’ through the space.
Used to run these streets, now I walk with grace,
Every step’s a lesson, etched in my embrace.
Youngins talk fast, but they miss the plot,
Life ain’t in the ‘Gram, it’s the soul you got.
I pen these bars for the ones who feel,
The weight of the years, but the heart’s still real.
Got my old crew, some gone, some here,
Toast to the ghosts with a bittersweet cheer.
The beat’s my pulse, keep it raw, keep it true,
Age ain’t a cage, it’s a lens to view.
[Bridge - Sung with a soulful sample loop]
Days turn to decades, the rhythm don’t fade,
Scratches on my soul, but the record still plays.
Hold tight to the truth, let the memories stay,
Gettin’ old, but I’m livin’ my way.
[Verse 5 - AABB]
Yo, I’m vintage, rare, like a ‘92 tape,
Still rip mics raw, let the doubters gape.
Gray hairs shine, like a crown I earned,
Every rhyme’s a torch, let the fire burn.
They say slow down, but I’m built to last,
Future meets the roots, I’m a bridge to the past.
Kids bump my tracks, call it retro heat,
But it’s life in my lines, not a nostalgic beat.
From the park to the stage, now the page my domain,
Ink’s my elixir, keepin’ me sane.
Gettin’ old? Nah, I’m growin’ to a king,
Mic’s my scepter, hear the kingdom sing.
[Outro - Slowed beat with a jazzy horn fade]
Time’s a long verse, I’m just addin’ my bars,
Scars tell the story, written under the stars.
Pen down for now, but the soul don’t rest,
Old man with a mic, still passin’ the test.