[Verse 1: sly calm male MC, steady over the ticking rimshots] Two years I been callin' 'bout the elevator, man Two years of "file a ticket," "we'll get to it," "understand" Seventh floor, bad knee, and my mama in a chair Every time it broke, I had to carry her the stairs Then a notice on my door, "Thirty days, you're out" 'Cause I called the city twice, and I opened up my mouth Mister Pell come by Tuesday with a clipboard and a tie Showin' off my unit to a man with cash to buy Pressed the button for the lobby, and I stepped in too He said, "Take the stairs," I said, "Sir, I'm comin' through" Doors shut, little jolt, and the light went red Stopped dead between the fourth floor and the fifth instead [Hook: sly calm male MC, the beat tightening] Between floors, between floors, now you feel it in your chest Two years of "file a ticket," now you sweatin' through your vest Between floors, between floors, ain't no up and ain't no down Only way you walkin' out is if we settle it right now [Verse 2: sly calm male MC, grinning] First hour, he was cool, makin' calls on his phone No bars in the shaft, man, you on your own Second hour, tie loose, he was poundin' on the door Third hour, suit off, he was sittin' on the floor I said, "Relax, I been stuck in here eleven times this year I know the latch up on the hatch, I know the way from here But my arms get kinda weak when I'm worried 'bout my lease And it's hard to lift a hatch when a man can't sleep in peace" He said, "Name your price," I said, "It ain't a price, it's a list Fix the box by Friday, and the rent don't move from this Rip the notice into pieces, sign it on the back with me" And his hand was shakin' worse than my mama's on her knee [Bridge: sly calm male MC, one word per beat, slow and heavy] Nine. Hours. In. A. Box. You. Own. The. Floors. I. Own. The. Clock. Who's. The. Landlord. Up. Here. Now? Sign. It. Slow. And. Sign. It. Loud. [Verse 3: sly calm male MC, cool and triumphant] He signed it on the notice with my pen against the wall Then I climbed up on the rail, and I pushed the hatch and all Pulled him up into the shaft, and he was cryin' on the cable Walked him to the fifth-floor doors and pried 'em open where I'm able Fire truck in the street, and the neighbors at the door Saw me carry out the landlord piggyback from floor to floor Carried him five flights like I carried Mama, one by one Set him on the lobby bench and told him, "Friday, it gets done" Friday came, new cables, and the light is shinin' green Mama rode it to the lobby like a queen in a limousine [Hook: sly calm male MC, the beat tightening] Between floors, between floors, now you feel it in your chest Two years of "file a ticket," now you sweatin' through your vest Between floors, between floors, ain't no up and ain't no down Only way you walkin' out is if we settle it right now [End]
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