[Intro - instrumental vamp to set the scene] [Verse 1] Built me a kingdom on Ford's steel steed four wheels, no mule, but every a-men-ih-teee just my work-from-the-street headin on down to Venice Beach [Verse 2] Ain't my first rodeo, I been here before nose to the grind, get my foot in the doooooooor gettin hungry for more livin off snacks from the corner store [Chorus - the hook lands bright and hopeful, a little gang-vocal joins in] Soon I'll, hit it biiig, just you seeeeeeee buy some gas, park at last, toss the trash, get some sleeeep no beggin for dimes no more — no more fightin what it's like to be poor brother, I'll be rich with eck-wih-teeee [Verse 3 - drops to a hush, curious and conspiratorial, night on the lot] The days were long, but the lot wasn't hot one night I found myself alone with beans in the pawwwwwt heard a scratch at the slot threw it wide open, found a new friend I'd got [Verse 4 - warm and tender, two strays finding each other] A talkin trash panda awaited my gaze nametag Equity, no tricks bein plaaayed said "I ain't eaten for days" I fill him up, fill him in, both of us prayed [Verse 5 - the ding hits, giddy and rising, eyes lighting up] For the ding! Android flashing screen! visions in my eyes of a future of greeeen hills... buckets of cream soon I'll be out of it, livin the dream [Chorus - bigger and more deluded now, drunk on the fantasy, gang vocals swell] Now I've, hit it biiig, just you seeeeeee buy a house, buy a dog, buy a wife, buy up Greeeece no scroungin for dimes no more — no more livin off the corner store brother, I'll be rich with eck-wih-teeee [Verse 6 - growled, mocking] Then he snatched that phone with a cackle and grin "four little points, bare rent comin innnn ten years with a tin tradin on ye life, but ye life's gettin thin" [Verse 7 - full mockery] Equity howled, gave his furry knee a slap oh "we're FAM-IL-LEE!", "GROUND FLOOR!", you know it's a traaaaap just catch the recap: they pay you in equity, and equity's crap!" [Bridge - the band drops away to just soft barroom piano and brushed upright bass, slow and almost out of tempo, a low tender half-spoken croon, the chromatic swing settles into simple warm resolving chords, sincere and intimate — the one honest moment] He handed back the phone to me and scowled... stared it down, took a sniff, then my buddy growled... "you wanna know what you're worth? look at me... nary a house, nor a dog, nor a wife... but I am free..." [Verse 8 - tempo kicks back in, band celebrating] I looked at that screen, then I looked at my friend chucked it out the winda, watched that offer descennnnnd this ain't how I end! my hands got itchin like a bite on the mend [Verse 9 - swung, gleeful] My ears went pointed, felt the whiskers sprout rings 'round my eyes, my striiiped tail owwwwwt slipped the sig-natch-yoor, no doubt two trash pandas, wanderin about [Final Chorus - the band explodes up out of the quiet bridge, full and pounding and locked in, one full-throated gravel-and-grin roar on top, a hard-won victory, big held note on the last word] Now I've, hit it biiig, don't you seeeeee got my crew, got the surf, got the moon, beckon meeee no scroungin for hope no more — no more knockin at the boss man's door! brother, now I'm rich with ECK-WIH-TEEEEE!
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