The Tree

[Verse 1]
His front yard was only eight by ten feet, but he took
Pride in his lawn so every blade was kept green all season
No pesticides, he trusted what the earth provided
Besides like every day the neighbour's dog came by to fertilize it
There was no bird bath to perch on and sing
No bush, no flowerbeds, no mighty oak or birch with a swing
That was 'til, one year, on the first day of spring
He got an envelope with nothing but his first name in ink upon it
He tore it open, wondering what it could be about
But found no letter in it, tapped it lightly and a seed fell out
He thought a minute, curious to what would grow
Then walked out to the shed to grab a spade and dug a hole
He put it right into the middle of the yard and gave it water
And a single drop of blood from his finger, like a pagan offer
The next morning he was looking for a sprout
And was astounded when he found it stood a foot out of the ground
Imagine!
A week went by, it raised an inch above his head
He double checked his measurement, then he stood and rubbed his neck confused
Neighbours watched and tried to figure what he fed it
Because in this short amount of time it was already set to bloom
The next day he saw some buds on the branches
Start to open so his eyes were looking bloodshot and anxious to see
Now try to picture the expression on his grill
When he saw no leaves emerging, only twenty dollar bills
Cha-ching!

[Chorus]
Microphone check check one two
Shouts to the family tree, check check one two
Microphone check, yo check one two
Shouts to the family tree, mic check one two

[Verse 2]
Took in a huge 'hooh' , and held it in his 'huh'
Then he whispered to himself "I'm gonna need a bigger fence"
He figured that the bills were ripe, so he got
His laundry basket, filled it right to the top
Then in he went and stashed the cash beneath his mattress thinking back
To pick the rest he had left, seemed like it'd blessed him with a sizable crop
But half the block was gaining interest on his spot whether he liked it not
These kids were set to get a taste, there was no time on the clock to spend
He built his fence from iron bars with barbed wire
Lined the yard with land mines and guard dogs who bark fire
Then he climbed to eavesdrop, with a rifle and a lawn chair
And sat up on his roof watching his neighbors through the crosshairs Wink!
And if he would have checked his answering machine
He'd hear his boss had fired him 'cause he'd been absent for a week
His main squeeze was on there too, with a message to deliver
Said "We're through and that's the last time that you stand me up for dinner"
Click!
But the first batch he picked was premature and different greens
Serial numbers incomplete, the hologram was even blurred
For the rest of the crop, he knew he'd have to leave it longer
And this harvest could be huge the roots were growing even stronger
Small as his house was, he couldn't afford the bills
But now it looked like he'd be raking in at least a quarter mill'
Poured some milk, and tossed a couple burgers on his Foreman grill
But stayed rooted at the window, eyes green from chlorophyll

[Chorus]
Yes yes
Microphone, check check one two
Shouts to the family tree, mic check one two
(Check ya' microphone) Check, check it y'all, one two
Shouts to the family tree mic check one two

[Verse 3]
All of a sudden, twenties turned from green to yellow to red
Now with a fifty on each one of them, he hit the floor cold
Couldn't believe it but he'd seen it, and he knew just what was coming
If these bills were turning brown then he would have a pile of hundreds
By tomorrow, and sure enough they did
Decided not to pick 'em though he'd wait until he saw the colours shift again
He'd never even seen a thousand dollar bill
And didn't know what colour to be looking for but kept his eyes peeled
Heard a gust of wind rushing in and rustling the foliage
And now a single leaf was slowly drifting to the ground (It's over kid)
He picked it up, it crumbled into dust
Waited too late in the cycle man he couldn't get enough
Now he's still sitting by that money tree, I know it's too much
Somebody oughta go and tell that fool they only bloom once
Now he's still sitting by that money tree, I know it's too much
Somebody oughta go and tell that fool they only bloom once
Now he's still sitting by that money tree, I know it's too much
Somebody oughta go and tell that fool they only bloom once
Yeah, bring the backwash
You gotta know just when to pick 'em 'cause they only bloom once

[Chorus]
Microphone check (check), mic check one two
My family's tree branching out, mic check one two
Yo microphone check, one two
Check it check it check it check it
Flight Distance
Microphone check
Bender