Ronald Isley - How Much A Dollar Cost lyrics

[Kendrick Lamar] 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 Hoppin out feeling big as Mutombo, twenty on pump six dirty Marcellus called me Dumbo twenty years ago, can't forget Now I can lend 'em a ear or two, how to stack these residuals Tenfold, the liberal concept that what men'll do Twenty-oh-six, he didn't hear me Indigenous African only spoke Zulu, my American tongue was slurry 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 then closed my door, tell me how much a dollar cost [Chorus: James Fauntleroy] All you neeeeed... is more to feed your mind Water, sun and love, the one you love All you need the air you breathe [Kendrick Lamar] 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 can see The 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" [Chorus] [Kendrick Lamar] 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 f** 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 judgment, I know when n***az 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 n***a you're babblin, your words ain't flatterin, I'm imaginin Denzel but lookin at O'Neal, +Kazaam+ your 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 Jehovah, 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" [Outro: Ronald Isley] 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 (oh yeah...) Turn this page, help me change, so right my wrongs