LIQUOR STORE BLUES

I'm up before the sun, ain't no sleep in this life, Crack of dawn, open up shop, and get my mind right, Behind the counter, man, it's like my second home, Brick walls and glass shelves, that were the broken roam. They come in all shapes, different stories, different pains, Some chase a high, some drowning in the rain, Old man Willie, yeah, he been here since like'85, He Bought a bottle every day, he keeps his demons alive. He lost his wife, his kids don't call, He drowns his sorrows in the alcohol, His eyes tell stories that his lips don't say, But I see it all, man, day after day. In this ghetto liquor store, life's on display, From the rich to the poor, they all find their way, I see dreams shattered, hopes down the drain, But I keep the lights on, through the joy and the pain. Then there's Maria, single mom with a fight, Working three jobs, still tucks her kids in at night, Buys a scratch-off, hoping for a break, Just a little bit of luck for her babies' sake. She tells me stories 'bout her babies growing fast, How they're good kids, but this life don't last, She prays to God for a way outta here, But the city's got a grip, it feeds on fear. She keeps on smiling, never shows the strain, But I see the tired eyes, and I feel the pain. In this ghetto liquor store, life's on display, From the rich to the poor, they all find their way, I see dreams shattered, hopes down the drain, But I keep the lights on, through the joy and the pain. Young Ty comes in, hoodie up, eyes cold, Just sixteen, but the streets got a hold, He slides a fifty, asks for the strongest drink, I hand it over, and I start to think, Like What's a kid like him doin' on this path? He's got his whole life, but he's full of wrath, Seen too much, too young, lost in the game, But who's to blame when the whole world's the same? He nods his head, steps out the door, And I wonder if I'll ever see him anymore. In this ghetto liquor store, life's on display, From the rich to the poor, they all find their way, I see dreams shattered, hopes down the drain, But I keep the lights on, through the joy and the pain. I keep this place runnin', I see it all, From the highs and the lows to the rise and the fall, Every face that walks through, they're lookin' for peace, But in this ghetto jungle, the struggles don't cease. Old man Willie, Maria, young Ty too, Different lives, different paths, but the pain's all true, And me, I'm just a witness to the stories they tell, Behind this counter, man, it feels like hell. But I keep goin', I open up every day, 'Cause this liquor store's the stage and this is where life's on display.