Giventake

Lyrics

[Verse 1] I work my fingers to the bone My elbow grease seeps Benefits get reaped I keep talk to a minimum Props, I never rented 'em I own all my masters Selling tapes for cash, fuck the middlemen bastards Though, it'd have been faster to take that route I'm observing those who didn't That's unfortunate how it turned out I learned early that beatin' fools is a worldly trade Man, how you gonna profit off the music that I made? C'mon now, I'll trade you for something equal But robbing artists blind isn't the way to be treating people And I can see that it's gonna take some sweat But perseverance plus a talent forms a weapon, and We steppin' in fresher this year Objects in the rear view are closer than they appear [Hook] It's a give and take What you're given's what they take There's no leftovers Only scraps on the plate It's a give and take What you're given's what they take There's no leftovers Only scraps on the plate [Verse 2] Give me a break What do they have to pay for? The energies from Earth? What, do they own that too? (Nah) A slew of bills fill my mailbox month to month (Fuck that) The numbers stump me like math I got to pay to take a bath, what? Pay to see my ass, and Pay for them to haul away the trash when it's full Pay to heat my food, and Pay to watch the tube, and If I don't have cable there's no channels for me to flip And that's more grip And if you're poor, shit They only give a few extensions (Not to me...) Dimensions of the plot run thick (Thick) Pretty soon we'll pay for air when they figure out how to sell it Tell it like you know it, and everybody wants to laugh Probably never hear the truth, 'til they take away the cash [Hook] It's a give and take What you're given's what they take There's no leftovers Only scraps on the plate It's a give and take What you're given's what they take There's no leftovers Only scraps on the plate [Verse 3] So many ways to drain a lifespan Sometimes I worry late at night and Try to fight the urge to smoke that bidi But despite man's will Still my lungs are smoke-filled And I hope to build with better tools But I be playin' the fool still Like, let me get a Sausage McMuffin with egg A little liquor to get on a fade And I would really have it made If she would spread her legs Probably aid me to my death Before I got the chance to age Wagin' war all my life But even if I didn't Somebody else could do it, and Wish me my good riddance When I'm gone Send me on my path, my merry way Time is but the test We livin' in scary days [Hook] It's a give and take What you're given's what they take There's no leftovers Only scraps on the plate It's a give and take What you're given's what they take There's no leftovers Only scraps on the plate [Outro] It's a give and take What you're given's what they take There's no leftovers Only scraps Only scraps No leftovers, only scraps Give and take (Nothing's ever left for me Nothing's ever left for me)