Hard Out Here
RAYE Lyrics

After years and fears and smiling through my tears
Despite facing years of hardships and fighting through my fears, I always put on a brave face.

All I ask of you is open your ears
I only ask that you listen to what I have to say with an open mind.

'Cause the truth ain't pretty, my dear
The truth is not a pleasant thing to hear, but it's necessary to face it.

It's been dark, been hard out
Life has been challenging and difficult for me.

On my way, figured a way, figured a way out
I figured out a way to navigate through life's challenges and overcome them.

My pen is a gun, pen is a gun, I'm finna spray now
My words are powerful and can be just as destructive as a weapon if aimed correctly.

He said I was out, said I was done, look at his face now
Someone doubted me and thought I was finished, but now they can see that I am victorious.

Tell them boys, feeling them boys, meet at the steak house
I'm feeling myself and want to celebrate my success with the boys at a fancy restaurant.

I been a mess, I'm in a dress and I got my cakes out
I may look a mess, but I'm embracing my femininity and showing off my assets.

Sleeping on her, sleeping on me, I'm in your face now
Someone ignored or underestimated me before, but now I'm confronting them directly.

What do you know about hustling?
Do you truly understand the struggle and hard work it takes to succeed?

As a young girl (young girl) in the dungeons (dungeons)
As a young woman in challenging and oppressive environments.

What you know about making amends?
Do you understand what it takes to make peace with those who have wronged you?

With the devils in your face you must pretend, uh
In difficult situations, you must pretend like everything is alright even when it's not.

CR0, I'm from ends but I'm an actor
I'm from the hood but I don't let that define me, I'm playing a role.

Smile in your face, all of the pricks, all of the wankers
I have to put on a fake smile and deal with unpleasant people.

I had to chill, smoke it away, manage my anger
I had to take a step back, relax, and find ways to control my anger.

What you know about systems?
Do you understand how societal systems can be oppressive and unfair to some individuals?

About drugged drinks, fucking nearly dying from addictions
Have you ever been a victim of being drugged or have struggled with addiction?

You start wonder why I'm Christian
I turned to faith for strength and guidance during difficult times.

Without the Lord, I'd take my life for all the times I've been a victim
If it wasn't for my faith, the pain from being a victim would be too overwhelming to bear.

No weapon formed against me shall ever prosper
I will not be defeated or harmed by any weapon or challenge that comes my way.

Baby, I bounce, baby, I bounce, baby, I bounce back
I am resilient and can bounce back from any setback.

All the white men CEOs, fuck your privilege
I'm fed up with the privilege and power that white male CEOs have and want to challenge it.

Get your pink chubby hands off my mouth, fuck you think this is?
I won't allow anyone to silence me or control me, no matter how powerful they are.

I told my lawyer stand by (war), there is no wrath like a women scorned
I am prepared to fight for what is right and seek justice, especially when women have been wronged.

Devil's a lie, I am the guy, call me the Conrad
I won't fall victim to the lies and deceit of the devil, I'm in control and can handle anything.

I been too nice, triple the price, pay me the whole bag
I have been underestimated and undervalued, but now it's time to be compensated appropriately for my work and talents.

These motherfuckers cheatin' on me, am I a wag? Never again
I won't be taken advantage of or cheated on again, I'm smarter and stronger now.

Top a the day, top a the day, top a the day to you
Good morning, I hope you have a great day!

This LP's full of the shit I'm gonna say to you, ooh
This album is going to be full of the hard-hitting truth that I want to share with everyone.

See how I flow when I'm in pain, I'm gonna pray for you
Even when I'm hurting, I will use my pain to create something beautiful and pray for those who have wronged me.

Then I'm a aim for you, and it's a shame for you, shame for you
I will use my words and actions to take down those who have wronged me or others, and it will be a shame and embarrassment for them.

What you know about violence? I'm on smoke now
Do you understand how violence can affect individuals and communities? I'm ready for any type of confrontation.

Babe, I think it's time to cut the violins
Stop playing the pity card and let's deal with reality and move forward.

Can't see you, I'm looking at the inside of my eyelids
I'm tired of being blinded by people's lies and will now only focus on what's in front of me.

I'll never stop fighting, all in God's timing
I won't give up or surrender, but I'll trust in God's timing and plan for my life.

And I'm about to have these grown men crying
Men who have underestimated or mistreated me before will now face the consequences and be brought to tears.

You wasn't trying, you was sitting on diamonds, mmm
You didn't recognize the value and strength within me before, but now you will see that I was always a diamond in the rough.

You gon' have to see me now, I'm shining, hyped up, blinding
I'm no longer hidden or invisible, I'm shining bright and can't be ignored.

Very fucking frightening, all these lies, now I see it so clear
It's scary and unsettling to realize how many lies and betrayals have been present in my life, but I now see the truth clearly.

See for girls like me from the bottom of the tier
This struggle and hardship is common for girls like me who come from disadvantaged or marginalized backgrounds.

Believe that it's always been hard out here
Understand that life has always been challenging and difficult for people in certain situations or environments.

No weapon formed against me shall ever prosper
I can't be defeated or harmed by any weapon or challenge that comes my way, because I am strong and resilient.