# KING OF THE TABLE **[Intro, half-spoken]** You got a cigarette? You got three? Look at you. Famous. **[Verse 1]** One smoke, two hands, three people in line, “Got one for me? You got one this time?” Everybody knows you, everybody says hey, You'd think you were a star the way they say your name. No record deal, no chain, no car, Just tobacco in a bag, now you're shelter-famous, dawg. Some got a bag, some got a tin, Same shit inside, just dressed to win. Little metal box, little gentleman's act, Funny how the wrapping makes a difference like that. You got the goods, now you got the crowd, Everybody's your brother when the packet comes around. **[Pre-Chorus]** Funny how a little thing Can make you somebody. Funny how they love you When you've got enough for everybody. **[Chorus]** Got one? Got one? Everybody knows your name. Give them one, you're everyone's friend. Say no, you're the one to blame. Got one? Got one? Everybody wants a taste. You're the king of the table Till you keep your stuff away. **[Verse 2]** Then comes the woman, and the questions begin, “One for me?” “Come on, just one little thing.” She says, “Nein.” They ask her again. She says, “Nein.” Now she's the problem. Her girl puts fifty cents down, She won't take the money, won't pass it around. And suddenly the room has a case to discuss, Everybody's a judge when the verdict ain't on us. “What's wrong with her?” “Why's she like that?” Funny how the whole room gets brave in a pack. One person says no, now the whole place is tense, Over something so small, over fifty cents. **[Pre-Chorus]** Funny how a little thing Can turn the room against you. Yesterday they needed you, Today they can't stand you. **[Chorus]** Got one? Got one? Everybody knows your name. Give them one, you're everyone's friend. Say no, you're the one to blame. Got one? Got one? Everybody wants a taste. You're the king of the table Till you keep your stuff away. **[Verse 3]** Somebody says, “Shut up.” The room looks down. A hundred little witnesses, not one makes a sound. They know it's unfair, but they know the routine, It's easier to blame her than to question the scene. Then Ali passes tobacco, the temperature drops, The courtroom closes, the arguments stop. No apology, no justice, no truth to defend, Just a little smoke, and we're all friends again. The peace wasn't peace, just hunger on hold, Everybody got quiet when the tobacco got rolled. The room didn't change, nobody got healed, It just got what it wanted, so the trouble wasn't real. **[Bridge, stripped back]** What's a good person worth When they've got nothing to give? What's a bad person worth When they won't give you what you think you deserve? Call it kindness When the whole room gets fed. Call it selfish When the same hand stays closed instead. **[Final Chorus]** Got one? Got one? Everybody knows your name. Give them one, you're everyone's friend. Say no, you're the one to blame. Got one? Got one? Yesterday you were the star. Today you're the problem For not giving what is yours. **[Outro, half-whispered]** Same shit in the bag. Same shit in the tin. One man gets an autograph. One woman can't win. Tomorrow they'll be asking. Tomorrow she'll say no. And everybody in the room Will act like they don't know.
