[Verse 1: Voice-cracking young male MC, cheeky, boom kick, cracking snare] Found a push mower on the curb with a sign that said "take me" Pulled the cord a hundred times until it coughed and woke up angry Mr. Patel across the street said, "Kid, that thing's a heap of rust" Saturday I cut his yard in stripes, now Patel's eating dust Then I knocked on every door from the corner to the creek And my voice cracked on the "hello" like a hinge that's got a squeak Mrs. Okafor was laughing, Mr. Dunn shut the screen Third house said, "Ten bucks," and I said, "Ma'am, consider it clean" Now my sneakers stay green and my pockets stay fat By the Fourth of July I had a hat and a map [Hook: Voice-cracking young male MC, yelling] Twelve lawns on the block and every one is mine Push mower from the curb and a cardboard sign Voice still crackin' when I knock on your door Twelve lawns, next summer I want twenty-four [Verse 2: Voice-cracking young male MC, faster] I'm up at seven when the dew burns off the block Gas can in the wagon and a ledger in my sock Charge ten for the front and fifteen if you want the back Twenty if your dog's been busy, and I'm keeping track Big company trucks roll by with the logo and the crew Grown men on the ride-ons and they laughing at me too But they charge you sixty dollars and they never learn your name I know your kid, your cat, your sprinkler and the way your gutters drain [Hook: Voice-cracking young male MC, yelling] Twelve lawns on the block and every one is mine Push mower from the curb and a cardboard sign Voice still crackin' when I knock on your door Twelve lawns, next summer I want twenty-four [Bridge: Voice-cracking young male MC, guitar loop steps back, just drums] Then Mama set a voicemail up and said, "Record it, make it pro" So I said, "You've reached Twelve Lawns," and my voice went high then low Played it back and I was dying, went and taped a brand-new one But the phone was ringing nonstop before the second take was done Neighbors calling up the number just to hear the crack and grin Then they book me for the month and tell their sister to call in [Verse 3: Voice-cracking young male MC, voice-crack payoff on the money word] Now it's August, three crews and a trailer for the gear My cousin runs the trimmer and my best friend holds the rear Mama says to save it, Daddy says to spend it, Grandma says invest So I put half in the bank and bought a mower that's the best And the company trucks still roll by, but they slowing at my sign 'Cause they lost the whole block and the whole block's mine, money [Final Hook: Voice-cracking young male MC, cracking on purpose] Twelve lawns on the block and every one is mine Push mower from the curb and a cardboard sign Voice still crackin' when I knock on your door Twelve lawns, next summer I want twenty-four [Outro: Voice-cracking young male MC, on the voicemail] You've reached Twelve Lawns [End]
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