Jasen's Junk

I did this one in the late 90’s. 98 Rock in Baltimore recorded and aired it.

“The Dealer” (lyric conversion of “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers)

On a warm summer’s evening on a Corner out on Fayette
I met up with a Dealer, who was selling on that street.
So we took turns a-starin’ out on Fayette at the Rollers
‘Til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.

He said, “Son, I’ve made a living out of selling crack to people,
Knowin’ how much bones they got, by the way they stand,
And if you don’t got no bones, G, Don’t be commin to me for credit,
I ain’t gunna give you none, and I don’t sell crack for free.

So I handed him my ’40 and he drank down my last swallow;
Then he bummed a newport and asked me for a light,
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression,
‘ said “If you’re gunna be a player, ya gotta play it right.

You gotta know when to hold-up,
Know when to shut-up,
Know when to kill the beotch,
Know when to run,
You never count your money,
When you’re standing out on Fayette,
There’ll be time enough to count it,
when the morning comes.

Every dealer knows that the secret to survivin’
Is knownin’ who to blow away, and knowing who is meek.
‘Cause all the Junkies buggin, and all the Junkies leakin.
And the best thing to hope for, are two bitches that you can freak.

And when he finished preachin’, he turned back toward Fayette
Crushed out his cigarette and then he sighed, deep.
And somewhere in the darkness, erupted automatic gunfire,
The Dealer took two in the brainpan, and I got off cheap.

You gotta know when to hold-up,
Know when to shut-up,
Know when to kill the Beotch,
Know when to run,
You never count your money,
When you’re standing out on Fayette,
There’ll be time enough to count it,
when the morning comes.