Light Tunnels
Last night the skies turned purple andPast lives in light tunnelsLight tunnels
In the back of a town car, staring at myself in a tuxManeuvering through the people out frontPolice barricade, orange cones and we're stuckTwenty minutes late and my manager blowing me upSecurity guard in the garage at the entranceWe roll down the window and show him our credentialsTerrell flash the pass and he lets us continueMetal detectors, phone losing receptionI should be grateful this my nine to fiveI walk into the green room, alright, alrightI get on YouTube tryna learn how to tie on my tieFuck it, I'll wear the bolo tonight, night, nightI probably shouldn't have done the drugs I've doneA couple of days ago, detox sonI forgot my belt at the hotelFuck, now my team all scrambling to help, this sucksI need something to cope, ain't nothing to copeI eat a banana and I drink a cup of Throat CoatI wish I had the homies with me here but nopeMost of the artists that I know don't get invited to this showBecause success to them determines our valueThe make-up, the power, hairspray, perfume, makeup and powderThe ratings come down to who's popular now in the song in the hourKnock at the door, I let them in, hair and makeup now, red carpet in tenShe covers up my freckles, concealer on my chinI look orange but she swears it looks natural with my skinThe show is starting, they take me to my seatWalk in the arena, feel the ego of elitesLike the whole industry is staring at meA row away from Taylor, two away from Jay and Bey
Last night the skies turned purple andPast lives in light tunnelsLight tunnelsSo that's who we areJust like the starsShine your light onShine your light on
Curtain opens up, host walks outWe stand in unison and applaud real loudI watch the other people that have been around for a whileJust excited I got invited, feeling cool in the crowdThinking such and such is bold, look at such and such's goldDamn, such and such in real life, looks really fuckin' oldSuch and such is fine, she's with such and such, ohI'm here but I'm barely even watching the showCause tonight we toast to our accomplishmentsInsecurity dressed up as confidenceI said tonight we toast to our accomplishmentsInsecurity dressed up as confidenceAn award is given out, commercial, reset the sceneThey keep saying "Coming soon is the Biebs"Watch celebrities take selfies with celebritiesIt feels so make believeThey want the gossip, they want the dramaThey want Britney Spears to make out with MadonnaThey want Kanye to rant and to go on longer, cause that equates to more dollarsThey want talking topics, they want trending topicsThey want outfits to be outlandish, they want sideways glancesBeef and problems, they want nipple slipsCause they live for clicks, this is economicsSo we Botox our skin and we smile for the cameraMight as well get a new nose while we're at itThis is America, insecurity's our fabricAnd we wear it and we renamed it fashionI look to my right, there's a cameraman snappingPicture after picture after sister after sisterOf the line of Kardashians, mind so distractedRealized there's an ovation and everyone's clapping
Last night the skies turned purple andPast lives in light tunnelsLight tunnelsSo that's who we areJust like the starsShine your light onShine your light on
It's just weird when the camera's on youGotta remember to still clap if I loseI see myself up on the screenSplit into five different artists on TVAnd just look normal, don't get turned into a memeRelax, breathe(And the award goes to: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis)MeThere's a stranger holding my awardI give her an awkward hug she says "It's yours"Think I'm supposed to kiss her on the cheekMan, I should have prepared an acceptance speechDo I talk first? Is it Ryan? Is it me?Fuck it, I'll take the lead, grab the mic, say my pieceDo I look at camera one? Do I look at camera three?I promise, I'm honored, I'd like to thank God, my momma and fatherI'd like to thank Tricia, the mother of my daughterI couldn't have done it without you all in my cornerEspecially the fans, been here since the beginningSupported the music, allowed us to be independentAnd I know, I shouldn't be long-windedWait, hold up, don't play the music, let me finishThis feels so narcissistic, dressed as a celebration to conceal it's a businessMe, me, me, my, my image, my, my songs, my self interestOne big reality show that is scriptedAnd I can keep trying or get off the competitionI'd rather run out of my fifteen minutesThan have life past me by and I forget to live itBut that doesn't mean retirementBut I don't like who I am in this environmentI forgot what this art's forI didn't get through Freshman year to drop out as a SophomoreHere I am in this arena, yeah, I'm scaredI got the people's attention, don't wanna lose it hereThinking about my career, miserable hereBut wanna make sure I'm invited next yearTo the same damn party, celebrities and aislesSame blank stares, same fake smilesSame big budget productionI know now who I am when the lights go out and it falls downAnd the curtain closes, nobody noticesWanted to throw up the Roc, wanted to be HovaWanted to be Wayne with the accent from the 'NoliaThought I'd feel better when the award show was overBut I guess I showed up lateAlmost got cut off when they closed the gateJust in time, what will I say?Time to explain this unruly mess I've madeI guess I showed up lateAlmost got cut off when they closed the gateJust in time, what will I say?Time to explain this unruly mess I've made