Rich Man Blues

They don’t know. No no noooo, Lord they just don’t know. Let’s tell em’

I came up from the gutter, now I’m lookin’ at my place,

Yeah, I came up from the gutter, now I’m lookin’ at my estate.

Got this big ol’ house and cars, but it still don’t feel like “I made it.”

Got marble in the foyer, got that driveway long and wide,

Mmm, marble in the foyer, got that whole place done to my like.

But this king-size bed feel empty with my wife sleepin’ by my side.

Got money in my pocket, but I’m lonely in my soul,

Yeah, these rich man blues done found me, took a young man and made him old.

I’m the only one I know this high, but it’s cold up on this gold.

Every knock upon my door got a story and a need,

Yeah, every “Brother, can you help me?” sound like “How much will you bleed?”

They don’t ask about my heart, they just measure what I’ll give.

They say, “Man, you really made it, you the pride of where we from,”

Mmm, “Man, you really made it, you the pride of the hood we from.”

But behind them smiles and praises, all I hear is “Can I get some?”

Got money in my pocket, but I’m bankrupt in my trust,

They love the shine, not the struggle, not the grindin’ in the dust.

I got millions in the ledger, but no one I truly trust.

I can buy another car, I can buy another estate,

Yeah, I can buy another car, I can buy another estate.

But I can’t buy someone who loves me when I’m broke inside my brain.

Who gon’ call me when I’m quiet, not just when they feelin’ broke?

Who gon’ pour into my spirit when this pressure makes me choke?

I done paid the cost of winnin’, now I’m payin’ in alone,

With these ghosts of where I came from dancin’ ‘round my throne.

All these hands reach up my ladder, but they never wanna climb,

Mmm, hands reach up my ladder, but they never wanna climb.

They want a shortcut through my wallet, not the years I served in grind.

Got money in my pocket, no one livin’ in my bracket,

Crowded room in Sac City, but my heart still feels a casket.

Write it small upon my tombstone so only real ones see:

“He had everything they wanted, but not what he really need.”

Got money in my pocket, no one livin’ on my level,

Crowded room in Sacramento, but my heart still feels a broken city.

Write it small upon my tombstone so only real ones see:

“He had everything they wanted, but not what he really needed thoughhhhh.”

They don’t know. Nooooo no nooo, Lord they just don’t know.

It’s lonely at the top, it’s hard to make it all alone. God I wish they’d all know, it’s tough to make it on your own.

I’m jaded. So jaded from all the lies.

I try to help out because I love. Try to help because I’ve been that man.

But I can’t do it em all. Lord, forgive me if I’m wrong. But I’m jaded from the same ol’ song. Broken record never ends.