PROMISES PROMISES I'M STILL BROKE 4-11-90 shepard & johnson

The Y said they're
backin my program
with excitement and cheers
We're crawling through
a valley of tears
Y lady kicks it
in an $1,800
a month crib
Tack left, tack right
grab the jib
Tell a joke
I'm still broke.

R & B star on the phone
says he has all kinds of work
swears he ain't playin me
for a jerk.
Record company budget
in home studio
hits all over
White Cliffs of Dover
I don't know
I'm still broke.

Night club fiend calls
got gigs in Vegas
Glitter resorts and Flashy sorts
needs some babes
to sing and cover back
I don't give a fuck
Times a passin'
and I'm still broke

Sky rock seed legend calls
big backers, 25-100 or so
comin' tonite
to see the show.
Tapes from before
Psychedelic 60's
dollar signs $ signs at the door
from Crenshaw to Hollywood
on RTD
there we sit
baby in tra la la land
I'm chillin on la de dah
with the ho-hums
where's my drums?

Rock seed legend split
may come back in a bit
You know the score
You've heard all that before
pushin too hard
Overload star status bore
"Baby, here we sit
watching the bus fare
walk out the door"
Ain't no joke
and I'm still broke

A ship's calling me to sea
Baby's goin bezerk on me
Get some crumpets
and pour the tea
Even the ship
might disappoint me
I know it ain't for free
but that's not where
I wanna be.
Question marks everywhere
Drowin, drowin in despair
I'm still broke
another joke

Snake eyes slick
swears he's gettin over quick
gold flashes from his teeth
Red high-heel boots
indiscreet.
Wannabe-couldbe-but ain't
background vocal, church sister social
Cover songs
rehearsal yawns
promises plenty of cash
sounds like more
bullshit, jiveass trash
I'm still broke.

Yvonne, the same now, same then
sister of sorts forty some odd years
came with salvation
bailed out on cue
said,"House sit this".
Deep in the hood.
South Van Ness & Hyde Park
railroad tracks, cop choppers, Crips
Bloods, guns and crack
don't forget to cover your back
festive acts, if ya can't hang
just chill, sit back

Home Jones Home Girl
homeless undesireables
shopping carts, tin cans
glass and trash
Hunter Gatherer Society
Recycler Class.
We're welcome here
just when we had nowhere to go
with two dollars and twenty-five cents
earned on the stoop
sellin others junk
The only definite cash in our scope
might as well not give up hope
all that stands between us and still broke.
Lookout-holdup-refeul stop
Two Chilidogs and a Coke
uh-oh here we go
one more time
we're still broke.

Bustin my ass
for chump change cash
a place to rest
me and baby's ass
the only thing that rings true
sling paint here
mop a garage
sure we'll do.
Amos and Andy live in the 90's
call themselves, "Mr. Franklin",
church goin man
and "Mr. Adams",
mouth full of tobaccy.
Makeshift, slapittogether, fix it men
sweatin and toilin
from deep within
to get The House and Urban Development grin
Pass inspections
overworked, hardly work businessmen
I'm still broke.

Hungarian promises Day and Night
too tight trousers, big belly plight
stories of riches spent in the past
tellin 'em now on his ass.
Bye-bye Beamers, bye-bye jets
smoked it smoked it
in a pipe of glass.
Strugglin now for a nickel bag of grass
V-8 engine without a gallon of gas
dreamin up a future, cryin out loud
Dollar signs $ signs
I'm still broke.

"What's up?"
"Music man!"
demo tapes
video tapes
tryin to escape
being kept down
in the hood
White man to Black man
" I would if I could."
Record deals
Award Ceremonies
don't that white man's talk sound phony?

Twist & Turnin
take a journey
sell him this
sell him that
watch him take
the ten bucks back.
Black man game
can't hang
says he'll bring ya
some killer weed
none of the herb
that's crushed up seed.
Four days later
that cats a skater,
James gone wrong
a story and song
Tired of folks
playin my time,
"where's my dime?"
I need that smoke
cuz I'm still broke.

link