Mr. Wendal
Mr. Wendal's Wisdom: A Dollar's Meaning, Dignity in Poverty
Lyrics
Here, have a dollar
Offering a dollar to someone
In fact, no brotherman here, have two
Generously offering two dollars
Two dollars means a snack for me
Two dollars is a small amount for the speaker but significant for the recipient
But it means a big deal to you
Highlighting economic disparities and the value of money
Be strong, serve God only
Encouraging strength and devotion to God
Know that if you do, beautiful heaven awaits
Belief in a beautiful afterlife for those who serve God
That's the poem I wrote for the first time
Reference to a poem about witnessing poverty
I saw a man with no clothes, no money, no plate
Observation of a man in extreme need
Mr. Wendal, that's his name
Introducing Mr. Wendal, a homeless man
No one ever knew his name cause he's a no-one
Mr. Wendal is a nobody in society
Never thought twice about spending on a ol' bum
Not considering the homeless until a personal connection is made
Until I had the chance to really get to know one
Reflecting on preconceptions about homelessness
Now that I know him, to give him money isn't charity
Challenging the notion that giving money is the only form of charity
He gives me some knowledge, I buy him some shoes
Exchange of knowledge and kindness
And to think blacks spend all that money on big colleges
Critique of spending on education that leaves people confused
Still most of y'all come out confused
Highlighting societal confusion despite education
Go ahead, Mr. Wendal
Encouragement to Mr. Wendal
Mr. Wendal has freedom
Mr. Wendal possesses a unique kind of freedom
A free that you and I think is dumb
Freedom that society may perceive as foolish
Free to be without the worries of a quick to diss society
Freedom from societal worries and judgments
For Mr. Wendal's a bum
Mr. Wendal is described as a bum, focusing on his freedom
His only worries are sickness
Mr. Wendal's main worries are illness and police harassment
And an occasional harassment by the police and their chase
Highlighting the challenges faced by the homeless
Uncivilized we call him
Society views Mr. Wendal as uncivilized
But I just saw him eat off the food we waste
Observation of Mr. Wendal using discarded food
Civilization, are we really civilized, yes or no
Raising questions about the true nature of civilization
Who are we to judge
Raising skepticism about society's right to judge
When thousands of innocent men could be brutally enslaved
Reference to historical injustices based on race
And killed over a racist grudge
Questioning society's morality and values
Mr. Wendal has tried to warn us about our ways
Mr. Wendal serves as a warning about societal issues
But we don't hear him talk
Society ignores Mr. Wendal's warnings
Is it his fault when we've gone too far
Asking if it's Mr. Wendal's fault when society goes too far
And we got too far, cause on him we walk
Society walks over Mr. Wendal despite his warnings
Mr. Wendal, a man, a human in flesh
Mr. Wendal is a human being without legal recognition
But not by law
Empowering Mr. Wendal with dignity and pride
I feed you dignity to stand with pride
Encouraging self-respect despite societal judgment
Realize that all in all you stand tall
Reinforcing the idea that everyone deserves respect
Go ahead, Mr. Wendal
Encouragement to Mr. Wendal
Mr. Wendal, yeah
Repetition of encouragement to Mr. Wendal
Lord, Mr. Wendal
Ending with a plea or acknowledgment of Mr. Wendal
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