the streets are not paved with gold, they lied
I got a rough throat, i got a rough life
the streets are not paved with gold, they lied
I got too much queer in me to live their way tonight.

she found me waist up in you
she had found me mouthful, drinkin’ you

mama said that I was the devil, made this journey here a waste,
made too American and too unruly
couldn’t I just wear dresses, make money, and behave?

mama said leave this house, her spirit broken by ache
all my belongings freckled the streets
I slept outside, spirit stayin’ up, my journey isn’t self-made

I say all you laughin’ & jukin’ in the alleys
I say all you sleepin’ to roaches cries
I say all you couch surfin’ until the next night
I say all you kissin’ despite the fists and the fights

together we are a prayer, a chant, a song, no matter what
together we are an anthem despite their cis hetero fuss
together we are stronger than the world’s unsaids
together we are as mighty as our ancestors up from the dead

we are bigger than the skylines that hold us
we are bigger than the sirens that stab our hearts
we are bigger than the talk of boystown progress & bars
we are bigger than bleeding our blood to the stars

together we are a prayer, no matter what
together we are an anthem despite their cis hetero fuss
together we are stronger than the world’s unsaids
together we are as mighty as our ancestors up from the dead