KENDRICK LAMAR – HOW MUCH A DOLLAR COST

Lyrics

How much a dollar really cost?
The question is detrimental, paralyzin' my thoughts
Parasites in my stomach keep me with a gut feeling, y'all
Gotta see how I'm chillin' once I park this luxury car
Hopping out feeling big as Mutombo
20 on pump six dirty Marcellus called me Dumbo
20 years ago, can't forget
Now I can lend all my ear or two how to stack these residuals
Tenfold, the liberal concept of what men'll do
20 on 6, he didn't hear me
Indigenous African only spoke Zulu
My American tongue was slurry
Walked out the gas station
A homeless man with a silly tan complexion
Asked me for ten rand
Stressin' about dry land
Deep water, powder blue skies that crack open
A piece of crack that he wanted, I knew he was smokin'
He begged and pleaded
Asked me to feed him twice, I didn't believe it
Told him, "Beat it"
Contributin' money just for his pipe, I couldn't see it
He said, "My son, temptation is one thing that I've defeated
Listen to me, I want a single bill from you
Nothin' less, nothin' more"
I told him I ain't have it and closed my door
Tell me how much a dollar cost
It's more to feed your mind
Water, sun and love, the one you love
All you need, the air you breathe
He's starin' at me in disbelief
My temper is buildin', he's starin' at me, I grab my key
He's starin' at me, I started the car, then I tried to leave
And somethin' told me to keep it in park until I could see
The reason why he was mad at a stranger like I was supposed to save him
Like I'm the reason he's homeless and askin' me for a favor
He's starin' at me, his eyes followed me with no laser
He's starin' at me, I notice that his stare is contagious
Cause now I'm starin' back at him, feelin' some type of disrespect
If I could throw a bat at him, it'd be aimin' at his neck
I never understood someone beggin' for goods
Askin' for handouts, takin' it if they could
And this particular person just had it down pat
Starin' at me for the longest until he finally asked
Have you ever opened up Exodus 14?
A humble man is all that we ever need
Tell me how much a dollar cost
It's more to feed your mind
Water, sun and love, the one you love
All you need, the air you breathe
Guilt trippin' and feelin' resentment
I never met a transient that demanded attention
They got me frustrated, indecisive and power trippin'
Sour emotions got me lookin' at the universe different
I should distance myself, I should keep it relentless
My selfishness is what got me here, who the fuck I'm kiddin'?
So I'ma tell you like I told the last bum, crumbs and pennies
I need all of mines, and I recognize this type of panhandlin' all the time
I got better judgement, I know when nigga's hustlin'
Keep in mind, when I was strugglin', I did compromise
Now I comprehend, I smell grandpa's old medicine
Reekin' from your skin, moonshine and gin
Nigga your babblin', your words ain't flatterin', I'm imaginin'
Denzel be lookin' at O'Neal
Cause now I'm in sad thrills, your gimmick is mediocre, the jig is up
I seen you from a mile away losin' focus
And I'm insensitive, and I lack empathy
You looked at me and said, "Your potential is bittersweet"
I looked at him and said, "Every nickel is mines to keep"
He looked at me and said, "Know the truth, it'll set you free
You're lookin' at the Messiah, the son of Jehova, the higher power
The choir that spoke the word, the Holy Spirit, the nerve
Of Nazareth, and I'll tell you just how much a dollar cost
The price of having a spot in Heaven, embrace your loss, I am God"
I wash my hands, I said my grace, what more do you want from me?
Tears of a clown, guess I'm not all what is meant to be
Shades of grey will never change if I condone
Turn this page, help me change, so right my wrongs

Paroles (Traduction)

Combien coûte vraiment un dollar ?
La question est préjudiciable, paralysant mes pensées
Des parasites dans mon estomac me donnent un pressentiment, vous tous
Il faut voir comment je me détends une fois que je gare cette voiture de luxe
Descendant en me sentant aussi grand que Mutombo
20 sur la pompe six, le sale Marcellus m'a appelé Dumbo
Il y a 20 ans, je ne peux pas oublier
Maintenant je peux prêter toute mon oreille ou deux à comment empiler ces revenus
Décupler, le concept libéral de ce que les hommes feront
20 sur 6, il ne m'a pas entendu
Un Africain indigène ne parlant que le zoulou
Ma langue américaine était pâteuse
Je suis sorti de la station essence
Un sans-abri avec un teint bizarre m'a demandé dix rands
Stressé par la terre sèche
Eaux profondes, ciels bleu poudre qui se fissurent
Un morceau de crack qu'il voulait, je savais qu'il fumait
Il a supplié et plaidé
M'a demandé de le nourrir deux fois, je n'y croyais pas
Je lui ai dit "Dégage"
Contribuer de l'argent juste pour sa pipe, je ne pouvais pas le voir
Il a dit, "Mon fils, la tentation est une chose que j'ai vaincue
Écoute-moi, je veux un billet unique de toi
Rien de moins, rien de plus"
Je lui ai dit que je ne l'avais pas et j'ai fermé ma porte
Dis-moi combien coûte un dollar
Il y a plus pour nourrir ton esprit
L'eau, le soleil et l'amour, celui que tu aimes
Tout ce dont tu as besoin, l'air que tu respires
Il me regarde incrédule
Ma colère monte, il me regarde, je prends mes clés
Il me regarde, j'ai démarré la voiture, puis j'ai essayé de partir
Et quelque chose m'a dit de rester en stationnement jusqu'à ce

Thématique La culpabilité

Style Hip-hop

Keywords âme, Révélation

Entités normées Afrique du Sud, Kendrick Lamar