Jack & Jones shoes

Sometimes on the bus
you hear things
that just can't be so
but they are no so easy
to be forgotten
like the time
I heard two ne'er do wells
sitting behind me
discussing the state of their wants
and needs
and finances to pay for both of these

needs must
and all that
and neither one of these
was named Chuck E

but they weren't good fer nothin's
not really
they were just telling it the way it is
and begging to be heard

they agreed
with each other
pants down to their knees
sporting Calvin Klein boxers
and miscellaneous baseball player bling

they agreed
that they were patrollin' chicks
but there weren't any on the bus
or in the neighbourhood either
the girls were working
fast food
about which
my step-daughter says
there is no such thing
especially when you're hungry
or somebody is expecting you to work miracles
barista-ing at 2C
or Second Cup
for those who don't like Tim's
and who know that Timothy's never was any good
or can't afford Starbucks
or would prefer Bridgehead if there were one near you
or the Happy Goat to be stylish

but the hours never work
and there are only 2 or 3

so these two on the bus
while they're patrollin' chicks
or doing whatever they can
to convince each other
that's what they'd rather be doing
if they had the chance
these two start talking
about Jack & Jones shoes
one guy wants a pair
$150 bucks cool
brand new

but he's got a VISA to pay
and the minimum payment is due
but he's got a cheque in his pocket
and is owed another
from somewhere else
between the two of them
where the money was coming from
didn't matter
the way the chicks didn't matter either
whether they were patrollin' them or not

and the nub of the problem is
how much to give VISA
of the cheque in hand
because the dude really wants the shoes
and how to get the shoes
and make VISA happy too
or at least get them off his back
for another month

so the other guy says
well how much do you owe VISA, man
because that basically matters
I mean you don't have to worship them
or anything
or give them more than they are do
but the Man fits in here somewhere
and you gots to give him somethin'
but I get where you're going with the shoes
because they are cool, man
and I'd get a pair if I could
but I got no job
and no money either
and I'm in a bad spot
I barely have enough to take the bus
but my sister took mercy
and gave me her tickets

because she's got a pass now
because of her job

so it you give the Man some
are you gonna have enough
to take the shoes
I don't know
is there tax on the shoes
my mama told me once
they didn't tax kid's clothes
but I don't know how old
you have to be
to be a kid
and I think they cancelled that program
you know
that Ford guy
he's always doing shit

well I owe VISA $350
the one guy says
and my cheque's for $200
and I got more money coming in
I think it's $75

and the other aks $350 total
or the minimum payment, man
because it sorta makes a difference

and the first guy says it's Total
and the second guy says Good
and the second guy says
if you put $200 down on the card
that leaves you the $150 for the shoes

but the first guy says
if he does that
he won't have shit
I mean I'll have the shoes
but then I'll be broke like you
and that sucks
and isn't any good

so the second guy says
well wait 'til you get your other money
and then buy the shoes
but the first guy says
that sucks too
because he really wants the shoes

so the second guy says
oh I know
what you should do
put pressure on the guys that owe you money
and tell them you'll kill them
if they don't pay you
what they owe
and tell him you need to make a purchase
and they're getting in your way
and you're not happy
and they're gonna be sorry
if they cross you
maybe even add
again
because that's even more ignorant
but that's the only way to deal
with these guys, man
and then just go and get your shoes
and keep putting on the pressure
so you're not busted flat like me

and when you're putting the pressure
on them
show 'em the shoes
and tell 'em
you got 'em
because that's the kind of person you are
and that's another reason they have to pay

but the first guy says
the money is coming from a guy
who gave me a job
and it'll be pretty stupid
to put pressure on him
but otherwise it's a great idea
and he asked
what I do now

and the second guy says
to the first guy
now pay VISA and get those shoes
and you'll feel good
and you won't be broke for long
because that guy who owes you
is probably cool

but the first guy says
he doesn't know if he can trust
his employer
because you can't trust a suit
even if his money
or especially when he's loaded
'cause that's why he's rich
you know what I'm sayin'

and the second guy says
man
I see where you're coming from
I hear what you're saying
and you're
like
screwed
like me
even though you got that cheque
and the Man owes you, too
but how we gonna change things
when they're aren't even any chicks
and we're sitting on this bus
you gotta face facts
man
it all sucks
and we're screwed
but nobody can say
we didn't reckonize that
and fight it
and we were never down with it
even though they had us
and if they respected us
the way they're supposed to
it would be different
but we're like that old general
Marcus Aurelius

the guy from that movie Gladiator
'case even though he had all the power
he was sick
and was screwed that way
even though he had that Russell Crowe guy

and didn't he end up dyin'
like a dog in an alley, man
and  the only thing left of him
was a toy soldier
that some brother buried

in the sand
of some arena
when that Crowe guy
got betrayed
by Aurelius' son

so we're doing OK, man
overall
so let's just get back to patrollin' chicks
they don't care about Jack & Jones man
you're shoes are cool enough
and we still got the power

and the Man can't take that away
from us
or we complain

where are we getting off
they asked each other
at the same time
and they said it was too cool
that they asked at the same time
and let's go and patrol chicks, man
that's what it's about anyway
why'd we ever talk about that shit anyway
we both knew you were screwed
but we know that, man
and that's our power
and we ain't ever going give that away
so let's use some of that now
and get us some chicks

yeah
but man my sister doesn't like me
talking like that
and she's pissed at you anyway
because she's not into you
you know
so let's just cool it
and get down somewhere
where we can get some respect
and other stuff too
you know what I'm saying
but I know you do
that's why we do this shit.