Hayi Bo, Read the Room

[Intro] Hayi bo Read the room Mina, I saw it Say less [Verse 1] You came in late with a speech prepared Fresh white shirt and a borrowed stare Told the waiter, “Put the table on me” Then your card went quiet at quarter to three Now you’re checking every face for a rescue I’m checking my phone like I never met you No hard feelings, but the story fell through Wonke umuntu uyabona — it’s true [Pre-Hook] Thula kancane, let the moment breathe You don’t need another tale up your sleeve If the number says no, let the number speak Being real looks better every day of the week [Hook] Hayi bo, read the room Everybody clocked the move Big watch, borrowed confidence Still can’t make your word come true Hayi bo, read the room Abantu bayabona, everybody knows Say less, stand straight, keep it honest That’s a better look on you [Post-Hook] Hayi bo — read it Say less — mean it Hayi bo — read it Khuluma iqiniso, keep it clean [Verse 2] You sent that screenshot with the corner cut Said “paid in full,” but the date showed up Promised all your cousins they could skip the line Now the gate man’s asking who approved the nine No shame in saying, “I misread the price” No shame in calling for a smaller night But a small mistake in a designer coat Is still that same small mistake, my broer [Pre-Hook] Thula kancane, let the moment breathe No applause can make a receipt agree If your word is light, put some weight beneath Being real gets louder when you don’t compete [Hook] Hayi bo, read the room Everybody clocked the move Big watch, borrowed confidence Still can’t make your word come true Hayi bo, read the room Abantu bayabona, everybody knows Say less, stand straight, keep it honest That’s a better look on you [Vocal Break] Who said that? You said that Who signed off? Nobody Who can fix it? You can fix it Start with “I was wrong,” mfowethu No long story, no smoke screen One clean sentence, then move clean [Bridge] I don’t need you small so I can look tall I just need your yes to mean yes when I call Take the borrowed jacket back by noon Bring your own name when you enter the room Ngiyakuzwa when the answer is true No extra volume, no costume [Final Hook] Hayi bo, read the room Everybody clocked the move Big watch, borrowed confidence Still can’t make your word come true Hayi bo, read the room Abantu bayabona, everybody knows Say less, stand straight, keep it honest That’s a better look on you [Outro] Hayi bo Read the room Khuluma iqiniso That’s a better look on you