Costs More Than It Used To (My Voice)

[Verse 1] Alarm goes off, I roll out slow Coffee hot, but the money’s low Truck needs gas, fridge needs food Every little thing’s breaking the rules Used to make it stretch, used to be fine Now the check’s gone way before time I do my part, I pull my weight Still coming up short at the end of the day [Chorus] It costs more than it used to just to live Everything takes more than a man can give I’m not chasing rich, I’m not hard to please Just want breathing room and a little relief I’m doing the math, it don’t compute Yeah, it costs more than it used to [Verse 2] Rent went up, pay stayed flat Same old story, imagine that Kids need shoes, car needs shocks Doctor wants cash before he talks They say grind harder, stay in line Like time itself ain’t been monetized I’m not broke down, but I’m close Tired of treading water just to stay afloat [Verse 3] Prices climb like they don’t see me working Dollar shrinking, same old hurting Every year feels lighter in my hand Same damn bills, different number on the plan They call it normal, say “that’s just the way” Funny how normal costs me more each day I’m not living bigger, not buying more Just paying extra for what I paid before [Chorus] It costs more than it used to just to live Everything takes more than a man can give I’m not chasing rich, I’m not hard to please Just want breathing room and a little relief I’m doing the math, it don’t compute Yeah, it costs more than it used to [Bridge] I still show up, I still try Still look folks straight in the eye Still believe if you work, you should get through Funny how that costs extra too [Last Chorus] It costs more than it used to just to live I’m giving all I’ve got to give I don’t need much, I don’t need proof Just let hard work still mean something true Let it add up like it used to Before everything cost what it do [Outro] Alarm goes off, I roll out slow Still standing up, even when the money’s low