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Words from the artist’s archive
Pain Got Flavor lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
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Verse 1
The bruises on the counter where the daylight used to hit I grab the onions from the crisper, let the blade split what the street split Sofrito starts the base, the tears hit the oil, sizzle and fade What the 305 took from me, I stir it till it tastes like home made Jerk for the burn that don't show on the surface of the skin Adobo for the depth so the bitter finds its way in The pot don't ask for receipts, it just holds what you bring to the flame Even the pain got a seat at the table when you know how to season the game The rent due tomorrow but the flavor still hits tonight We turn the loss into the broth that keeps the whole block right
Chorus
Pain got flavor when the culture stirs We don't serve it plain, we season the dream Sofrito in the soul, jerk in the vein Adobo on the story till the story tastes like game Pain got flavor, we stir it till it sings
Verse 2
They ask how we smile when the lights cut and the block gets cold I say the same way we make the last plantain stretch when the story gets bold Grind the garlic with the grief, let the cumin cover the crack in the voice The kitchen is the only room where the hurt gets a choice No recipe for the nights the city took more than it gave But the hands remember how to turn the loss into a pot we save For the ones who still hungry, for the ones who still in the fight We season the silence till it sounds like we alright The bones slap on the table like a second heartbeat We play the hand we got, we season what the game call weak
Chorus
Pain got flavor when the culture stirs We don't serve it plain, we season the dream Sofrito in the soul, jerk in the vein Adobo on the story till the story tastes like game Pain got flavor, we stir it till it sings
Bridge
Some nights the spoon feels heavy, the pot feels too small for the weight The flame flickers low like the hope in the hallway gate But the culture don't fold when the flavor runs thin on the tongue We add a little more salt from the tears that already rung
Chorus
Pain got flavor when the culture stirs We don't serve it plain, we season the dream Sofrito in the soul, jerk in the vein Adobo on the story till the story tastes like game Pain got flavor, we stir it till it sings
Outro
Pain got flavor...
Inside the recording
The bruises on the counter where the daylight used to hit I grab the onions from the crisper, let the blade split what the street split
Pain got flavor when the culture stirs We don't serve it plain, we season the dream
Pain got flavor...
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.