Concrete River

[Verse 1]
(Sound of a phone ringing, clicks to voicemail)
Hey, it's Hùng. Uh... (clears throat) callin' from the Bolsa Avenue bridge.
It's Tuesday night, past two, and the air's so thick you could drown.
I heard what you been doin', kid. I heard you been runnin' around.
And I just had to pull this truck over and get this out right now.

[Chorus]
You ain't too tough to be your mother's son.
You ain't too proud to see the work she's done.
This concrete river don't forgive no one.
Boy, you better turn around and run.

[Verse 2]
Saw your picture from last Saturday night.
Gold chain hangin', tryin' to look so bright.
Your Ma called me cryin', said you told her, "It's my life."
That ain't your life, boy, it's just the sharp end of the knife.

[Chorus]
You ain't too tough to be your mother's son.
You ain't too proud to see the work she's done.
This concrete river don't forgive no one.
Boy, you better turn around and run.

[Bridge]
These roots run deeper than this cracked-up town.
Our folks broke themselves on sun-scorched, stubborn ground.
You're lettin' good fruit rot just to wear a crooked crown.

[Outro]
Look, just… just call her back. Alright? Call your m—
(Voicemail time-limit BEEP, silence for 3 seconds)
(Music fades back in, sparse and slow)
…Don't make her cross that water all alone again.