First Check, Still Broke

[ Lyrics ]

First check, still broke — smiling through the smoke.

Hand it to the teller, she don’t even flinch,
figures it’s from her boyfriend or a lunch.
But I stand a little taller, try to hide the shake,
never held real money for something I *made*.
Frame the receipt like it’s a trophy I won,
still owe Ms. Kim two months on the rent, though.
Buy a bottle of rosé from the corner store light,
and two packs of ramen — fancy tonight.

Candle on the table, glow on my face,
realize the glow-up’s not quite in place.
But for once, I don’t feel like a ghost in this town —
even if the check didn’t pull me out.

First check, still broke — yeah, I’m smiling through the smoke.
First taste of the dream, but the hunger’s still strong.
First check, still broke — I’m not where I’m going,
but I’m not where I was all along.

Scroll through my feed, see the girls in Milan,
diamonds in their ears, private jets and handbags.
I’m in my K-town studio, silk scarf around my head,
playing my demo under candlelight instead.
One step at a time — that’s what Mom always said,
and tonight, it feels like the first one landed.
Not rich, not famous, not living in silver,
but I got paid for being me — call it beginner’s splendor.

Phone buzzes once — it’s my roommate, “You good?”
I say, “Yeah, just writing something, caught in the mood.”
No tears in the wine, no voice cracking low —
just a quiet pride I didn’t think I’d know.

First check, still broke — yeah, I’m smiling through the smoke.
First taste of the dream, but the hunger’s still strong.
First check, still broke — I’m not where I’m going,
but I’m not where I was all along.

This ain’t the montage where the lights hit the sky,
no red carpet waiting, no credits to buy.
Just a moment, small and unspoken and true —
I created. I showed up. I got paid. I blew through.

First check, still broke — yeah, I’m smiling through the smoke.
Proof I can build it, even if it’s slow.
First check, still broke — but the fire’s been lit,
and the next one’s gonna lift me right out of this pit.

Smiling… through the smoke.