[Intro] (Mm-hm) Count me in—one, two… [Verse 1] Front-street manners, back-alley plans, Didn’t blink once when they flexed their hands. No big idols—fuckery’s banned; Put my heel in the door off the strength I am. All of them nights? Too many to tally, Pennies into pounds while they kept score badly. Started at zero with a thrift-shop tally— Now the band on the roll like a cashbox rally. [Pre-Chorus] Respect? I earned it, lace by lace, Never learned fear, just learned the pace. If you ask what I’d die for—same thing I’d ride for, Blood in the ink when I sign my name. [Chorus] Ever seen a hundred-fifty rubber-banded, stacked? (Stacked) Started out with nothin’, had to grind and double back. (Back) Don’t that shit make you happy? (Say yeah) Don’t that shit make you happy? (Mm-hm) If it don’t, that’s an issue—get a tissue for the issue, ’Cause I know folks still runnin’ from they issues. (Shoo) [Verse 2] Been lit since ringtones sang on the phone, When the hook hit thin through a cracked ear-cone. Sweet tooth for the wins, gold cap on the grin, Sun-kiss on the brim as I slide back in. Want a love in the kitchen, apron, Ving-Rhames— Pan fire kissin’ while the sauce takes aim. They see me too fly, swear we ain’t the same, But the roof lifts easy when you call my name. [Pre-Chorus 2] Money on the line goes brrring-brang-brrring, But peace of mind don’t come with the ring. Happy for me or nah? That’s the only thing— Either clap on two and four or don’t you sing. [Chorus] Ever seen a hundred-fifty rubber-banded, stacked? (Stacked) Started out with nothin’, had to grind and double back. (Back) Don’t that shit make you happy? (Tell me) Don’t that shit make you happy? (Oh really?) If it don’t, that’s an issue—sip your gin and face the mirror, ’Fore you drown another chorus in your bitter. [Bridge] GED—Get Every Dollar—but I learned this too: Broke never made me happy… money never made me true. Anxiety’s a taxman, knocks past two; So I max on good times like the rent came due. City counter closed, brown envelope fat, Magic in my palm: “I can buy this, that.” But the love? That’s the part no teller can cash. So I bargain for a kiss like I don’t own a stash. (pssht) (Ba-da-bap, mm-hm, doo-doo—stop—let me talk my jazz.) [Verse 3] No cosigns—I poured my own pint, Kept faith in the barlight, nickel and a ninth. Empath to the envy—feel the room shift slight, But a crocodile smile? Don’t take that bite. Play nice on the socials, better live in person, Yesterday’s thurz? This the upgraded version. If you running from your shadows, you gon’ circle that curb— I two-step through mine till the band says swerve. [Double Chorus: last one up a semitone, ad-libs] Ever seen a hundred-fifty rubber-banded, stacked? (Stacked!) Started out with nothin’, had to grind and double back. (Back!) Don’t that shit make you happy? (Happy, happy) Don’t that shit make you happy? (Tell me, baby) If it don’t, that’s an issue—book a session with your tissue, We got joy on tap; let the horns uplift you. [Outro] (Don’t it, don’t it, don’t it…) make you hap-py… (mm-hm)
