[Intro: a dark minor waltz on strings and piano, sub bass on every downbeat] [Hook: cold elegant female voice, sung in three] They threw a ball for the neighborhood And the neighborhood didn't get a card So I waltz in, one, two, three Straight through the front, past the guard [Verse 1: gritty male MC, rolling triplets] My cousin's parking cars out front, he takes my keys and shakes his head "You ain't on the list," I said, "I'm in the brochure, read what the brochure said" At-risk youth, a picture of my stoop, a kid in a hoodie, and the kid was me I grew up, and the risk was y'all, but the photo's still running for free Crystal on the ceiling, a quartet in the corner, a thousand a plate for the cause A thousand a plate to save the neighborhood, and not one motherfucker from it on the floor They bid nine grand on a painting of Mister Lee's, and Mister Lee can't make the rent I could've paid his lease for a year off the frame, so tell me where the money went [Hook: female voice] They threw a ball for the neighborhood And the neighborhood didn't get a card So I waltz in, one, two, three Straight through the front, past the guard [Verse 2: MC, colder] Y'all waltz 'cause you can't find the one, the kick comes in four and you lose it Stiff as the shrimp on the ice by the bar, I'm the only thing here with some music Councilman's wife says, "Are you with the caterers?" Nah, I'm with what you came here to save She grips her purse, I hold out my hand, there's a camera, so she can't wave me away So we waltz, one, two, three, and I lead, and the whole room watches the show Spin her past the mayor and the plaque with the names of the people who sold us out slow Whisper in her ear, "That's my corner in the frame by the coat check, ma'am" "You paid nine grand for the view from my window, and I lived in it, damn" [Stop-time verse: the orchestra hits only the one of each bar] I took the mic off the auctioneer, and the strings froze on the three Said, "If y'all really want to save the block, it's six minutes east, ask for me Bring the shrimp, bring the quartet, bring your checkbook and your sneakers for the street You don't need a ball to save a block, you need balls, and that's the deal, take a seat" [Bridge: female voice over strings, the MC answering low] Who let him in? Y'all did, the second you printed my face on your card Who let him in? Y'all did, and I'm leaving the same way, through the yard [Final Hook: female voice, full orchestra, the MC doubling the last line] They threw a ball for the neighborhood And the neighborhood didn't get a card So I waltz out, one, two, three With the busboys, the cooks, and the guard [Outro: the waltz winds down to a single string note, one last sub hit] [End]
