Tempted - Kero One

The phone rings, it’s a quarter to 9

I’m slippin' on some fresh kicks and jacket with matching lining

My boys on the line and announcing the time and

How I need to hurry cause its bout to be live man

A parties jumping off DJ’s bringin' beats

My boys bringing his girl, the one he met last week

Mad geeked he says peace and ends the conversation with that

Not sure what to expect, but that’s the beauty perhaps

So I rush out of my crib followed by the door

Meet up, get to the club, make my way to the floor

I’m seeing girls showing flesh, dancing shoes in full effect

My boys in the vicinity his girls to his left

Rubbing her bootie on me, when his heads turned right

Yo a cutie indeed, damn, but something ain’t right

So I ignore her gestures, and proceed with my business

Just enjoying music and some physical fitness

And when the nights over yo we’re back at my boys crib

He dips to the store, so I’m alone with his mistress

She sits at a distance… but what is this?

She’s throwing charm like javelins traveling within inches

I duck and dodge but now her hands on my leg

Damn she’s creeping towards red I hold my head and beg…

Father, don’t let me be tempted, cause I been that route

Sayin' father don’t let me be tempted I been there before

And after nights like that, I’m dead tired at work

Behind on deadlines and a boss that’s a jerk

2 years under my belt, sitting here, what’s the worth?

Staring at a screen until my vision is blurred

Word, I’m trying to get by, cause I must survive

Living for measly checks till the day that I die?

Never that, settle that I hear a voice in my head sing

Just then I see a pen and timecard for weeks ending

Yeah I worked plenty, but the question is when

I can say I worked 20 when I only did 10

And pretend, cause with the extra ends there’s plenty to spend on

Or if accounts in the red, it’s what I’ll depend on

Once the rents gone, and its due real soon

So I’m convincing myself, my lies could be true

And its funny, how money can change your thinking

Like a boat that floats false hope when your sinking

I’m flinching I pause with a pen in my palm

I see two doors so to my lord I sing this song…

I’m saying, twist ya thinking caps to the side

I’m saying one time for your mind one time

I’m like walking the ave on a hot ass day

Just got off that job with that modest pay

But yo I’m on my way hold up on my way

Banks close at 6 and cash is calling my name

So as I rush the door I brush shoulders with this stranger

Who gets angered, throwing curses my way

Straight disturbed but I say «sorry man» and keep walking

But he keeps talking shouting «chink!»

from his coffin

Often that words left herbs bloody like tampons

The setting’s ironic cause someone’s bout to get banked on

I’m amped son, blood is pumping through veins

I’m making knuckle sandwiches and lunch is on me now

I know with every pickle there’s a way out

Just brush my shoulders off and go with the safe route

But this time it’s different, or is it?

I play out

These thoughts in my mind, then from my mouth I sang out…