Track 12: "The Representative"
Moody R&B / Neo-Soul — Sade meets H.E.R.
Verse 1: She walks in first Before I even get there Checks the temperature Reads every face Knows exactly what to wear She's been doing this so long now She could do it in her sleep The smile The handshake The answer to the question She's so good at what I need
Pre-Chorus: What school did you go to What do you do Married with children Simple questions She gets me through But I'm standing right behind her And I've been here all along Waiting for the moment I'm allowed to come along
Chorus: The representative is tired y'all Been working since I was small Took every hit Held every room Built every single wall But I'm right here behind her And I think it's time she knew The room can handle Leslie The real one The true one The one that came through
Verse 2: She got me through my mama's house Through years I still can't name Through courtrooms and through empires Through every version of the game She went to Marianna for me Built everything after that Smiled through every dinner Made sure nobody saw the cracks She earned her flowers I need her to know that But I've been growing Right behind her back
Pre-Chorus: What school did you go to What do you do Married with children Simple questions She gets me through But something's shifting in me And it's been shifting for a while I think I'm ready for the room To meet the woman Behind the smile
Chorus: The representative is tired y'all Been working since I was small Took every hit Held every room Built every single wall But I'm right here behind her And I think it's time she knew The room can handle Leslie The real one The true one The one that came through
Bridge: One breath before I answer Let me find her One breath to let the armor Rest a minute One breath to ask the question I keep avoiding What if they see me Really see me And I'm enough Without the performance Without the polish Without the representative Running point for me What if I've been enough This whole time And she was just Protecting me From finding out
Final Chorus: The representative is leaving Not forever Just for now I'm walking in without her No scanning No practiced bow Just Leslie Just me Unscripted and unplanned And turns out the room won't kill me When I show up As I am When I show up As I am
Outro (Spoken): She kept me safe For a very long time I honor that I really do But I've got it from here Just me Just Leslie As I am
