"Nobody to Somebody"
Verse 1
I was just a young boy in the dust of the street
Barefoot dreams, no food to eat
Mama prayed while the nights got cold
Told me, "Son, you got a story untold"
Teachers said I wouldn’t go far
But I was counting stars from a broken jar
Notebook full of hope, pocket full of air
Still I walked with faith like the sky was there
Pre-Chorus
They laughed when I fell, said I’d never stand
Now I’m drawing maps with a steady hand
Every scar turned to lesson, every loss a plan
Watch me rise, yeah, understand
Chorus
I went from grass to grace, from the bottom to the top
From nobody to somebody, and I’ll never stop
Nyanja: Lesa alimpalula, kuchoka panshi kufika pamwamba
Bemba: Lesa anjicitula, ukufuma muli zero ukufika pali one
God turned my pain to praise, my tears to a song
Look at me now — tell me what went wrong
From empty plates to a table set
Every "no" I got, I don’t regret
I’m living proof that the dark don’t last
From nobody to somebody, from grass to grace
Verse 2
Used to walk past the city lights
Wonder if my name would shine one night
Sold water in traffic just to buy a pen
Wrote my future over and over again
Uncle said "boy, just find a job"
But my heart was beating for something more
Late nights, small lights, heavy grind
Built a kingdom in my mind
Pre-Chorus
They doubted the vision, but I stayed true
Now the same ones saying "I knew you"
Every brick was a prayer, every step was grace
See the kid they forgot set the pace
Chorus
I went from grass to grace, from the bottom to the top
From nobody to somebody, and I’ll never stop
Nyanja: Ndine umboni, Lesa sanisiya — I’m a witness, God didn’t leave me
Bemba: Nomba nine muntu, Lesa aalimpela amaka — Now I’m somebody, God gave me strength
God turned my pain to praise, my tears to a song
Look at me now — tell me what went wrong
From empty plates to a table set
Every "no" I got, I don’t regret
I’m living proof that the dark don’t last
From nobody to somebody, from grass to grace
Bridge
So this is for the kid with holes in his shoes
For the girl with big dreams and nothing to lose
Nyanja: Usataye mtima, nthawi yako ikubwera — Don’t lose heart, your time is coming
Bemba: Wikanswa, inshiku shobe shilaisa — Don’t give up, your days are coming
Your time, your turn, your testimony
The world gon’ know you, just wait and see
Final Chorus
I went from grass to grace, from the bottom to the top
From nobody to somebody, and I’ll never stop
Nyanja: Kuchoka pa udzu kufika pa ulemu — From grass to honor
Bemba: Ukufuma ku busha ukufika ku bucindami — From poverty to glory
No more shadows, I found my place
Look at me now — I’m running this race
From empty plates to a table set
Every "no" I got, I don’t regret
I’m living proof that the dark don’t last
From nobody to somebody, from grass to grace
Outro
Yeah... Nyanja: Zikomo Lesa — Thank you God
Bemba: Natotela Lesa — I thank God
From the dust we rise, and we never forget it
Nobody to somebody... that’s my name now