Lyrics
Look, ma! No hands!
Expression of performing a task effortlessly or without assistance.
Turning money to water
Metaphorically converting wealth or financial resources into something fleeting or non-lasting.
The High Priests of Credit
People in authority controlling credit or financial systems.
pouring my blood on the altar
Sacrificing one's own efforts or resources for the benefit of others or a higher cause.
Runway out my wallet
Spending money rapidly or extravagantly.
Cleared another departure
Successfully leaving one place for another, possibly indicating progress or advancement.
interrupting arguments,
Interrupting conflicts within family dynamics.
mother shushing my father,
A mother silencing or calming a father during arguments.
Thought I was making more than living check-to-check,
Believing to earn more than just enough to cover living expenses, yet still being in debt.
but debt is debt,
Emphasizing the burden of debt regardless of income.
At the gas pump, prayin I didn't spend the rent
Anxiety about spending money on essentials like fuel, possibly impacting ability to pay rent.
My signature in Etch-a-Sketch,
Comparing one's signature to an Etch-a-Sketch drawing that can be easily erased or changed.
it was shaken down
Metaphor for disruptions or instability causing the need to fix problems quickly.
Scramble to cover leaks with putty before the rain's aground
Struggling to manage financial constraints and limitations.
Strict diets of spending limits and budget cuts,
Having to skip meals due to financial hardship.
Skipped a meal when I was broke, now I can't stomach lunch
Witnessing the decline and suffering of loved ones.
I've seen people I love burned to a blunted husk,
People facing challenges without actively seeking solutions.
Their will is always tested, but they never study much
Experiencing financial difficulties and a looming sense of catastrophe.
Dollars late, years short, apocalypses fear wrought
Drifting into despair or difficult situations where emotions overwhelm.
Veered off, into dark corners where the tears caught
Retreating to unhealthy coping mechanisms or distractions.
Escape was just the price of what the beer cost
Feeling disconnected or unresponsive to queries about one's purpose.
Non-responsive asking what I'm here for
Was I living or surviving?
-Shuffled through the days, pretending that I was trying,
-Moved through the cold, while my mood hit the lows,
-Mind on my money, I was losing'em both.
-I went hungry til the starving stopped
-Bill collectors ringing, and I would tell'em their calls had dropped
-No market for this music, I was told to pop,
-by people who would tell me, Keep working, and hoped it flopped
-Write to prove'em wrong, fight to lose the charm
-Armchair A&Rs asking if I could move along,
-and treated gatekeeping like they were crossing guards
-Narcissism meant that my mistakes never taught me at all
-I would fail, then learn to fall with grace
-I'd talk to the squad, harm across my face
-They kept one finger on the alarm in case
-I found only one way to have my flaws erased
-Too shook to die at my own hand, but I used
-To think I wouldn't live to be a grown man.
-Studying the difference between breathing and surviving
-while learning about how patient I can be from inside it
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