How Much A Dollar Cost

Album: To Pimp A Butterfly (2015)
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  • How much a dollar really cost?
    The question is detrimental, paralyzin' my thoughts
    Parasites in my stomach keep me with a gut feeling, y'all
    Gotta see how I'm chillin' once I park this luxury car
    Hopping out feeling big as Mutombo
    Twenty on pump six dirty Marcellus called me Dumbo
    Twenty years ago, can't forget
    Now I can lend him a ear or two how to stack these residuals
    Tenfold, the liberal concept of what men'll do
    Twenty on six, he didn't hear me
    Indigenous African only spoke Zulu
    My American tongue was leery
    Walked out the gas station
    A homeless man with a semi-tan complexion
    Asked me for ten rand
    Stressin' about dry land
    Deep water, powder blue skies that crack open
    A piece of crack that he wanted, I knew he was smokin'
    He begged and pleaded
    Asked me to feed him twice, I didn't believe it
    Told him, beat it
    Contributin' money just for his pipe, I couldn't see it
    He said, my son, temptation is one thing that I've defeated
    Listen to me, I want a single bill from you
    Nothin' less, nothin' more
    I told him I ain't have it and closed my door
    Tell me how much a dollar cost

    It's more to feed your mind
    Water, sun and love, the one you love
    All you need, the air you breathe

    He's starin' at me in disbelief
    My temper is buildin', he's starin' at me, I grab my key
    He's starin' at me, I started the car then I tried to leave
    And somethin' told me to keep it in park until I could see
    A reason why he was mad at a stranger like I was supposed to save him
    Like I'm the reason he's homeless and askin' me for a favor
    He's starin' at me, his eyes followed me with no laser
    He's starin' at me, I notice that his stare is contagious
    'Cause now I'm starin' back at him, feelin' some type of disrespect
    If I could throw a bat at him, it'd be aimin' at his neck
    I never understood someone beggin' for goods
    Askin' for handouts, takin' it if they could
    And this particular person just had it down pat
    Starin' at me for the longest until he finally asked
    Have you ever opened up Exodus 14?
    A humble man is all that we ever need
    Tell me how much a dollar cost

    It's more to feed your mind
    Water, sun and love, the one you love
    All you need, the air you breathe

    Guilt trippin' and feelin' resentment
    I never met a transient that demanded attention
    They got me frustrated, indecisive and power trippin'
    Sour emotions got me lookin' at the universe different
    I should distance myself, I should keep it relentless
    My selfishness is what got me here, who the fuck I'm kiddin'?
    So I'ma tell you like I told the last bum, crumbs and pennies
    I need all of mines, and I recognize this type of panhandlin' all the time
    I got better judgement, I know when nigga's hustlin'
    Keep in mind, when I was strugglin', I did compromise
    Now I comprehend, I smell grandpa's old medicine
    Reekin' from your skin, moonshine and gin
    Nigga your babblin', your words ain't flatterin', I'm imaginin'
    Denzel but lookin' at O'Neal, Kazaam is sad
    Thrills, your gimmick is mediocre, the jig is up
    I seen you from a mile away losin' focus
    And I'm insensitive, and I lack empathy
    He looked at me and said, "Your potential is bittersweet"
    I looked at him and said, "Every nickel is mines to keep"
    He looked at me and said, "Know the truth, it'll set you free"
    You're lookin' at the Messiah, the son of Jehova, the higher power
    The choir that spoke the word, the Holy Spirit, the nerve
    Of Nazareth, and I'll tell you just how much a dollar cost
    The price of having a spot in Heaven, embrace your loss, I am God

    I wash my hands, I said my grace, what more do you want from me?
    Tears of a clown, guess I'm not all what is meant to be
    Shades of grey will never change if I condone
    Turn this page, help me change, to right my wrongs Writer/s: James Edward II Fauntleroy, James Fauntleroy, Josef Leimberg, Kendrick Duckworth, Ronald Isley, Rose Ann Mckinney, Rose McKinney, Terrace Jahmal Martin, Terrace Martin
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Missing Link Music, Royalty Network, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

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