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Paperboy Mentality

from Storytelling ep by Fres Thao

/

lyrics

Here’s the daily routine, get the paper, get the / green
way before the days he became a teen / ager
way before the days of mixtapes and pagers
back when the local arcade was the hangout

sweating and pedaling on the paper route
just to earn another buck, living a kid’s life’s / rough
but kid’s like / us / who fist fight / punks
give life two thumbs up and take a puff

yea, he’s ready with gloves on, prepared to do the work
heavy load on his back, ready to spread the word
see this kid weathers the storm, treks through the dirt
rain, snow or sunshine, it’s really no concern

back alley ways, he bikes on through the dark
with his headphones on, he straight ignore the world
and to some, it’s absurd and to him, it’s his purpose
gotta do the work, yea, he leaves it on your door step

the paperboy mentality pedaling half a sleep
crack of dawn grinding, riding through the streets
paperboy mentality, pedaling half a sleep
worked hard for mines, can’t take that from me

An early earning lad with a paperboy bag /
Strapped over his shoulder, 50 pounds on the back
Up early morning while everyone’s still in bed
In the heat, in the blistering cold earning his bread

Brought the latest scoop, newspaper rubber banded
If it was raining, slipped it in a plastic bag and
Deliveries right on time, right on point
The early morning bandit could not disappoint /

The paperboy mentality, paperboy salary
Fat shoe laces and back pack full of tapes
broken walkman with the volume maximized
He don’t speak often and seldom cracks a smile

Grease the gears and pump the tires on the bike
See him in the mirror, he’s a hardworking hustler
With the money on his / mind / gotta keep / grinding
Gotta do the work and get to class on time


the paperboy mentality pedaling half a sleep
crack of dawn grinding, riding through the streets
paperboy mentality, pedaling half a sleep
worked hard for mines, can’t take that from me



he work hard and play hard Up in the schoolyard
with a whole crew who stay out after dark
who spar in the parking lot of menominee park
in the boom box, ATCQ, bugging out



he leaving in a while, but for now, they getting down



out the morning after howling in the evening

circulate the wordplay he back while you’re sleeping
hop the curbs for kicks, toss it on the porches
growling at the dogs, stopping to smell the roses
the perfect sun rise, yea, that’s what gets him going

and he didn’t get an allowance like most of em clowns did
2 bedroom duplex with 4 hungry kids
pass me downs and fingers pointed at him
gotta do the work and this is HOW HE DID IT

the paperboy mentality pedaling half a sleep
crack of dawn grinding, riding through the streets
paperboy mentality, pedaling half a sleep
worked hard for mines, can’t take that from me

credits

from Storytelling ep, track released January 1, 2008
Written by Fres Thao
Produced, chopped and cut by Dj ShortRound

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Fres Thao image

Fres Thao Minnesota

I am a Hmong American poet, Hip Hop artist, multidisciplinary artist, activist and educator. My life long love of poetry, Hip Hop and storytelling has spawned eight albums, including Illegoalien’s ‘Blank Canvas’ and a vinyl release of my ‘Mind Full Of’ album, and one book, Lullabies for Happiness, A Manual for Love and Peace. ... more

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