Fresh out of school cause I was a high school grad
Gots to get a job 'cause I was a high school dad
Wish I got paid like I was rappin' to the nation
But that's not likely so here's my application
Pass it to the man at AT&T
'Cause when I was in school I got the A-E-E
But there's no S-E for this youngsta
I didn't have no money so now I have to punch the
Clock like a slave, that's what be happenin'
But whitey says there's no room for the African
Always knew that I would clock G's
But welcome to McDonald's can I take your order please
Gotta sell ya food that might give you cancer
'Cause my son doesn't take no for an answer
Now I pay taxes that you never give me back
What about diapers, bottles, and similac
Do I gotta go sell me a whole lotta crack
For decent shelter and clothes on my back?
Or should I just wait for help from Bush
Or Jesse Jackson, and operation Push
If you ask me the whole thing needs a douche
A masengel what the hell cracker sell in the neighborhood
To the corner house bitches
Miss porker, little Joe or Todd Bridges
Or anybody that he know
So I got me a bird, better known as a kilo
Now everybody know I went from po' to a nigga that got dough
So now you put the feds against me
'Cause I couldn't follow the plan of the presidency
I'm never givin' love again
But blacks are too fuckin' broke to be republican
Now I remember I used to be cool
Till I stopped fillin' out my W-2
Now senators are gettin' high
And your plan against the ghetto backfired
So now you got a pep talk
But sorry, this is our only room to walk
'Cause we don't want to drug push
But a bird in the hand is worth more than the bush

Tell the politicians, the hustlers, live and let live (yeah)
Tell the politicians, the hustlers, live and let live (yeah)


Lyrics submitted by Ice

A Bird in the Hand Lyrics as written by Mark S. Jordan O'shea Jackson

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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A Bird In The Hand song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    OK, a question, and a couple corrections.

    1.) Does anyone know what Cube is referencing by "when I was in school I got the A-E-E"? I've tried to figure this out for years but can't make heads or tails of it...

    2.) It's "There's no SC for this youngster" as in USC, University of Southern California -- not "SE" as above.

    3.) "what the hell, crack will sell" NOT "cracker sell". Although, Hell Cracker does seem like a great Alt-Country band name. :-)

    4.) Def one of Cube's most concise, and well-developed sets of lyrics in his immense socially-conscious rap library. My favorite Ice Cube song ever.

    Brilliant illustration of the position people are put in when born into poverty: Is the right thing to obey the law, or is the right thing to feed my family?

    Kens522on March 21, 2017   Link

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