Bheka, I Don’t Fold

[Intro] Bheka Ngikhona Say it plain [Verse 1] Monday I paid for the uniforms Tuesday I patched the gate Wednesday you sent that long voice note Saying I arrive too late You wanted a softer answer I had dust beneath my nails I was keeping three small promises While you were reading old details [Pre-Hook] Don’t call my quiet empty Don’t call my work a pose Every place I had to leave from Taught me what a promise holds [Hook] Bheka, I don’t fold No one writes my price Ngikhona, say it twice I chose my life Bheka, I don’t bend For a story that you wrote Angisabi, let it show I don’t break, I don’t fold [Post-Hook] Ngikhona Ngikhona No borrowed name No borrowed name [Verse 2] You arrived in a pressed white shirt With advice I did not need Said I should smile for every hand That never helped me eat I kept the kettle on for home I kept the numbers straight You were counting every window I was fixing every gate [Pre-Hook] I have seen a loud man vanish When the bill came to the door I have seen a tired woman Turn a home into much more [Hook] Bheka, I don’t fold No one writes my price Ngikhona, say it twice I chose my life Bheka, I don’t bend For a story that you wrote Angisabi, let it show I don’t break, I don’t fold [Rap Break] No shortcut, no witness No paper stamped to pass I learned the shape of hunger I learned to make it last Mina, ngiyazi What a long week costs So I don’t lend my future To a mouth that counts my loss [Bridge] If my face looks serious It remembers where I’ve been Bheka, every open window Started closed and locked within We said tomorrow softly once Then we went and made it real Ngikhona, not by accident I came back with a key [Final Hook] Bheka, I don’t fold No one writes my price Ngikhona, say it twice I chose my life Bheka, I don’t bend Not for talk, not for a joke Angisabi, let it show I don’t break, I don’t fold [Outro] Bheka Ngikhona No borrowed name No borrowed name