Nujabes, Substantial, Pase Rock - City Lights lyrics

Always in trouble
Need love on the double spent cake
And a lifetime climbing to the level
Contract with the devil
Loopholed expiration date
On the side of good people
Always set the record straight
Round and round the piano keys meditate
Felt in the music, need it now
Can't let it wait it's not a secret
Everything is all out and exposed
It's going down like the water
In the river flows
So it goes, another day another story told
Stuck inside the puzzle searching
Still trying to get a hold
Forgotten souls got lost in the cold
Trying to get to freedom
Now they need 'em walking down to hope road
They said they hope so, but it was a no go
Front row stage show, well placed logo
Fancy lights and the cameras are on
But he don't care
He's just there to sing another sad love song

Fade to black
The soundtrack to another night
It's the music of the rain
And the city lights
Feel no pain, it makes the whole city bright
Without the sparkle or hype
It's just another night fade to black
The soundtrack to another night
It's the music of the rain
And the city lights
Feel no pain, it makes the whole city bright
Without the sparkle or hype
It's just another night

And they all knew what it
Was from the first glance
No excuses, should've planned in advance, man
Documented on ProTools or Tascam
Struggles & hustles of an ordinary black man
Spin a record with two week life span
Can't find a good girl
So we hug the mic stand
Not a lot of paper left in his right hand
Making enemies of folks he treated like fam
Stone cold, solid rock every point stop
What you lean on, soon as the pressure drops
Ghetto hot
Know the ledge and you'll hear the shot
But he'll never stop 'til his
Name's known on every block
Spread my wings fly away to the night beat
He's wide awake while the rest
Of the city sleeps in these gritty streets
Dudes creep with plenty heat
Pay it no mind and we
Grind losing plenty sleep

Yo, yo
Some play for keeps while you laid asleep
In the dark your worst
Nightmare wait's for he
Anything discern, no dawn or despair
Air's crisp and calm, I think a storm is near
And I'm watching lightning dance
Across the skyline
Usually miss it, rarely find time
To bask in blackness, hint of line shine
But in a jazz pub chilling
Sippin' with fine wine
Hypnotize by the strum of the upright
Feel like lost souls got their
Eyes on me some nights
So keep my eyes wide and move cautious
Slip and find yourself in a brand new coffin
By morning
Now you're the one with the night breed
You should've known better if
You're anything like me
But the city lights will seduce you
Daywalkers beware if it's not
What you're used to