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Artist Name: Imran Mandani Song: Showtime (Life’s A Stage: Carpe Diem) Lyrics: Written and performed by Imran Mandani Submission: Tech N9ne 2022 Contest Submission Total track length: 5:00 minutes (extended version)
Intro Yo, all of us have creativity The Lord wants you to search within for hidden talents Carpe diem, do what moves you and make it Your purpose is to find your passion... Embrace it...showcase it... ‘Cause soon it will be lights...camera...action
Chorus Life is a stage gotta stand out from the crowd Through the doors of success I’ll bring the house down Let me be your window to the world So 'fore the curtain drops, I can take a bow Till the lights out
Life is a stage gotta stand out from the crowd Through the doors of success I’ll bring the house down Got a drive gotta get this show on the road Been a slow grind, but in no time It’ll be showtime
Verse 1
I can hear them calling from behind the scenes How can I have tunnel vision, While seeking to have wide appeal? I hold my breath, though I breathe to fight my fears Having a drive, time for me to get behind this wheel Not tryna let anyone gas me up But stadium’s packed, Like I’m tryna win the Stanley cup It’s just me, and the mic, So on stage I hope they give me mad props No cap, I’m hoping that they throw their hats off Gotta get my "inspire on" like my laptop And against this backdrop, They don’t see the writer’s block on my word doc Tryna make waves in hip-hop like a surf shop Drowning from this burden of expression Haters can blurt Macbeth from first impressions I’m a tortured soul in my thirst for perfection (spirits) The multi-verses of Dr. Strange And through the cadence I give my two cents, coin some phrases Life’s a stage, here to play it
Pre-Chorus
Live my truth; write my fate, every day is magnum opus I don’t just grab the mic, I grab the moment When push comes to shove, then I’m pushing P March to the beat of my own drum, how it should be
Here to raise the bar, I’m here to raise the bar Even if I break a leg the show must go on To live my dreams I gotta stay woke and I’m... In my flow state till it’s showtime Till it’s showtime
Chorus
Life is a stage gotta stand out from the crowd Through the doors of success I’ll bring the house down Let me be your window to the world So 'fore the curtain drops, I can take a bow Till the lights out
Life is a stage gotta stand out from the crowd Through the doors of success I’ll bring the house down Got a drive gotta get this show on the road Been a slow grind but in no time It’ll be showtime
Verse 2
Gotta get rid of the shadow self for the limelight Gotta go bat for myself, Ain’t no chilling on the sidelines Been handed lemons in my lifetime And I’m waiting for the time to be ripe And I break a sweat though I thought I got the drip A show stopper but this clock is ticking If I’m caught slipping A fickle audience can talk and giggle... And a journalist in a suit that’s navy blue... Hoping that he’ll give some rave reviews In a magazine from May through June ‘Cause YouTube is like, Television gotta "pay per view" Everyone stuck to their seat like crazy glue While I’m making moves yo DJ play the tune
Pre-Chorus
Live my truth; write my fate, everyday is magnum opus I don’t just grab the mic, I grab the moment When push comes to shove, then I’m pushing P March to the beat of my own drum, how it should be
Here to raise the bar, I’m here to raise the bar Even if I break a leg the show must go on To live my dreams I gotta stay woke and I’m... In my flow state till it’s showtime Till it’s showtime
Chorus
Life is a stage gotta stand out from the crowd Through the doors of success I’ll bring the house down Let me be your window to the world So 'fore the curtain drops, I can take a bow Till the lights out
Life is a stage gotta stand out from the crowd Through the doors of success I’ll bring the house down Got a drive, got to get this show on the road Been a slow grind, but in no time It’ll be showtime
Verse 3
Never the type to rest on my laurels Flowing full of substance, suffer from withdrawals An artist high off his own cortisol Though I rehearse and rehearse it’s Murphy’s Law I get judged, So I’m up all night cooking up till the early dawn Keeping it raw, Though I suffer from this imposter syndrome My booking agent says I got a novel written Because, through my blood, sweat, and tears I do this for the love and cheers ‘Fore I steal the show gotta have nerves of steel Bring the house down regardless of curb appeal I’m in overdrive, it’s an uphill battle, I’m in third gear I gotta let go of internal fears Cut out external...and feel In my heart there’s something eternal...here Let my soul be my hype man Find the creative spark; that’s divine plan When I hit a stone wall, I rock the mic stand
Chorus
Life is a stage gotta stand out from the crowd Through the doors of success I’ll bring the house down Let me be your window to the world So 'fore the curtain drops, I can take a bow Till the lights out
Life is a stage gotta stand out from the crowd Through the doors of success I’ll bring the house down Got a drive, got to get this show on the road Been a slow grind, but in no time It’ll be showtime
Outro
If you want to manifest greatness Put yourself out there All of life’s a stage Because it’s always showtime