TWISTY TREAT Upbeat reggae — playful, warm, father-and-son groove [Intro] Yeah, yeah… Come on, little man… Life sweet—but you still gotta carry your own flip-flops. Ha-ha! [Verse 1] He says, “Daddy, can I get it?” with a smile so wide, Already got three new things sitting by his side. I say, “Maybe, little buddy—what you gonna do?” He says, “I cleaned half my room… does that count for two?” I wanna spoil him rotten, buy the whole toy store, But every time I give him one, he comes back for four. So we make a little deal underneath the summer heat: A little bit of working for a little Twisty Treat. [Chorus] Oh, life is a Twisty Treat, Cold and sweet in the summer heat. Chocolate, vanilla, spinning around, You gotta do your little part before it drips on the ground. Yeah, life is a Twisty Treat, Some days easy, some days beat. I’ll give you all my love, but here’s the deal: You wash those dishes, I’ll buy the meal. [Verse 2] He wants the latest sneakers and a brand-new game, Says, “Everybody’s got one!”—I’ve heard that claim. I say, “Everybody’s daddy ain’t standing right here, And money doesn’t grow from the palm trees here. TWISTY TREAT Upbeat reggae with a little heart underneath it [Intro – Spoken] Yeah… Two big brothers, two big sisters— I was the little man bringing up the rear. We didn’t have everything… Now my boy asks me for something, and that little kid in me says, “Buy it!” Ha-ha… that’s the twist right there. [Verse 1] Five kids in the kitchen, four ahead of me, Two older brothers, two older sisters—whole lotta family. Mama made it stretch, Daddy worked all week, We didn’t have much money, but we always had enough to eat. Hand-me-down sneakers and a secondhand bike, You didn’t always get exactly what you liked. We learned how to share, learned to wait our turn, Though back in those days, we didn’t know what we learned. [Pre-Chorus] Now my little man comes smiling at me, Says, “Daddy, that new game is all that I need.” And the little kid inside me starts moving my feet, Saying, “Go on, buy the boy a Twisty Treat!” [Chorus] Oh, it’s a Twisty Treat, Trying to keep the love and the lesson sweet. I can buy it now, but should I buy it today? My heart says yes, while my head says, “Wait.” Yeah, it’s a Twisty Treat, Chocolate and vanilla going round in me. I wanna give him more than they could give to me, But I don’t wanna make everything too easy. [Verse 2] He says, “Daddy, everybody’s got one but me,” With the saddest little face you’re ever gonna see. I know that routine—I invented that style, But he almost gets me every time with that smile. I remember being young, looking through the glass, Watching all the shiny new things go past. So when he asks me for it, it’s hard to say no, ’Cause I still remember wanting things a long time ago. [Pre-Chorus] I wanna fill the spaces from when I was small, Give him every little thing—I could give him all. But too much sugar ain’t always sweet, Even when it comes with a Twisty Treat. [Chorus] Oh, it’s a Twisty Treat, Trying to keep the love and the lesson sweet. I can buy it now, but should I buy it today? My heart says yes, while my head says, “Wait.” Yeah, it’s a Twisty Treat, Chocolate and vanilla going round in me. I wanna give him more than they could give to me, But I don’t wanna make everything too easy. [Reggae Breakdown] Clean up the room—then we talk about it. Finish that homework—then we talk about it. Take out the trash—now you’re looking real neat. Grab your shoes, little man—let’s get a Twisty Treat! [Verse 3] I ain’t trying to make him struggle like before, I just don’t want him thinking life is one big store. He don’t have to go without just to understand, But a little bit of earning helps to build a man. Some days I hold firm, some days I give in, Sometimes he works me with that innocent grin. I’m learning as I go, just like he is too, Trying not to let my childhood choose everything I do. [Bridge] My parents gave us everything they had, Even when the money got a little bit bad. They gave us love, and they gave us time, And somehow five children turned out just fine. Now I’ve got more than they had back then, But money ain’t the measure of raising good men. So I give him my heart, and I give him my seat, And every now and then, one extra Twisty Treat. [Final Chorus] Oh, it’s a Twisty Treat, Being a daddy ain’t always neat. I can buy it now, but should I buy it today? Sometimes love gives—and sometimes love waits. Yeah, it’s a Twisty Treat, Father and son to a reggae beat. I’ll give him more, but I’ll help him see: The best things in life ain’t always free. Oh, it’s a Twisty Treat, Chocolate and vanilla in the summer heat. He does his part, then he rides with me— Two happy fools eating ice cream by the sea. [Outro – Spoken] One for him… One for me… Maybe one more for the ride home. But he’s paying next time. Ha-ha… yeah right.
