Watch the official music video for “Paid My Dues” by NF.
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NF – “Paid My Dues” Lyrics:
Verse 1
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 pedestals
Quick, quick, quick
Here the critics come, it’s time to go
I read your article, it kind of 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 trashin’ people, I get paid ’cause I stay workin’
Drop The Search and they emerge up
Out of nowhere to the surface
Just to peek behind the curtain
Throwin’ 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)
Verse 2
I spit it with ease, so leave it to me
You doubt it but you better believe
I’m on a rampage hit ’em with the record release
Dependin’ the week, I’m prolly gonna have to achieve another goal, let me go
When 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? Yup, see what I mean?
How many records I gotta give you to get with the program?
Taken 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 to pick up the bars
You gotta be smart, you really gotta dig in your heart if you wanna get to the root of an issue
Pursuin’ the mental can be dark and be difficult
But the pay off at the end of it can help you to get through it, hey
Chorus
Paid my dues, made it through
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Spread the news, I’m on the loose
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Makin’ moves, I need some room
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Thought we’s cool
Well, don’t assume, don’t assume, hey
Verse 3
I’m the truth
Oh, they want some proof? Here, don’t be rude, somethin’ new
Even when I lose I make it look cool
Do the show, then we hit the room
Wife is lookin’, whoo
What to do? I don’t need the shades up to like the view
It’s time to get back in the swing of things
When my life crashes, I’m not the guy that will 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 they 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
Then cause divides, I’m forced to fight
The poison I been sippin’ on has quite the bite
It killed me twice, they rigged the lights
So y’all can see the parts of mine that aren’t so bright
See, often I apologize then authorize the awful times to pop up (Nate)
Like I’m right behind you, I’d advise you not to try to
Climb inside the mind like I do
Keep the rhyme book, expedite it, overnight it
Hold it tight and hope that time is on my side
‘Cause if it’s not then I’ll decide to override my own demise
I tow the line too close and I could improvise
I’d empathize but recognize the fact that I could jeopardize and wreck our lives
You better give me your attention, the undivided
Chorus
Paid my dues, made it through
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Spread the news, I’m on the loose
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Makin’ moves, I need some room
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Thought we’s cool
Well, don’t assume, don’t assume, hey
Paid my dues, made it through
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Spread the news, I’m on the loose
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Makin’ moves, I need some room
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Thought we’s cool
Well, don’t assume, don’t assume, hey