“[1]
I used to be the kind of guy who was kind of fly
kind of like the type who like to ride a bike despite the sun not shining bright.
I like to think it was perspective, but if I was perceptive
then I’d know it’s cause I was neglected. 
Mother f’n up the child support checks wit’
whatever she dealt with—card house falling on itself.
So my heart turns cold—poppa at the club, try'n'a get paid; 
diamonds a girl’s best friend; we call a spade by his name.
And I saying this emotionally, supposing if we 
had the Huxtable family, then that luxury could’ve damaged me more
than I am, and, see, I don’t believe in mistakes like
snake bites, brakes lights, nothing more than fate, right?
Crap shoot, shake dice. At least you took the gamble.
A man don’t got a chance if he just watching from the side. 
It’s easy to say, “He lost.” but harder to say “I tried.”
It’s simple to know the theory…let’s see it when it’s applied.
Supply and demand manhandles many, and anybody who’s tellin’ you diff’rent prob'ly
don’t understand economics. 
You see, that bike I was riding around on when it was cloudy, 
was really just to prepare me for folks who were stationary
and daring me to be diff’rent, I channeled it into this. It’s
medicinally elicited, written like a prescription, shit.

Take two listens and call me when you get it.
I’ll write you another one that’s more potent if you don’t feel it. But you will. 

[Hook]
And I meant it just for you...
For when you need some words that are words that you listen to, 
or when you need ‘em to give, just distribute…
these few…are some that I use to get me through. 

You see, I’m not the same guy that I used to be, 
and if I’m judged by the past, then I’ll be glad to say that 
I can look at yesterday’s sorrows and see tomorrow, 
borrow lessons I learned, and turn ‘em into my future.


[2]
I used to be the kind of dude who was kinda rude. 
Blind from booze. Try’n’a lose myself in myself. Got into 
the driver’s seat, and I can speak from experience when I tell ya,
it’s a real thin line in between success and failure.
Heaven and Hell are rarely seen and described for the living. 
Either you get on with it or be imprisoned by the constant thoughts, 
the kind of talk that make you doubt your purpose. 
They only see your surface. If you believe your worth is 
less or greater, let ‘em make you buy into it, there’s your fate, ‘cause
you are who determines who you will be. Not him or me.  

You see that car I was driving around in when I was drinking
was really to get me thinking how this could end in a blink. 
And when my eyes opened—the cries choking back the pain— 
how can I explain how that’s a gain, except for saying,

“Take two listens and call me when you get it.
I’ll write you another one that’s more potent if you don’t feel it. But you will.” 

[Hook]
And I meant it just for you…
For when you need some words that are words that you listen to, 
or when you need ‘em to give, just distribute…
these few…are some that I use to get me through. 

You see, I’m not the same guy that I used to be, 
and if I’m judged by the past, then I’ll be glad to say that 
I can look at yesterday’s sorrows and see tomorrow, 
borrow lessons I learned, and turn ‘em into my future.

[3]
I’m not so certain that I even got the choice to press Play. 

I found myself by myself, told myself this discovery was monumental, 
because there were no subjects similarly stenciled, 
just me, and as long as I used pencil to craft my story, 
I could go back and erase the parts I didn’t like; 
I could fill in the spaces where I didn’t write; 
I could shade the pages or dim the lights where I deemed appropriate

because I was in control. 

I didn’t start the game, 
didn’t have to blow in a cartridge
to un-glitch it. I just had to “get with it.”

No series of switches or configuration of keystrokes 
gave me hope of one day winning. 

And I’m not even certain that I chose to press Play. 

I found myself by myself, told myself this discovery was monumental, 
because there were no subjects similarly stenciled, 
just me, and as long as I used pencil to craft my story, 
I could go back and erase the parts I didn’t like; 
I could fill in the spaces where I didn’t write; 
I could shade the pages or dim the lights where I deemed appropriate

because 

I was in control.

[Hook]
And I meant it just for you…
For when you need some words that are words that you listen to, 
or when you need ‘em to give, just distribute…
these few…are some that I use to get me through. 

You see, I’m not the same guy that I used to be, 
and if I’m judged by the past, then I’ll be glad to say that 
I can look at yesterday’s sorrows and see tomorrow, 
borrow lessons I learned, and turn ‘em into my future.”


Take Two Listens [Produced by Preme]

A.D. Carson