Under the Influence

[Verse 1]
I woke to a room spinning, everything’s trippy
My friends in low places swigging Tennessee whisky
I’m slick enough to turn pills down from Jefferson Airplane
Now I venture down the staircase
I rejoin the shenanigans, I come to the fridge
Shug a beer with some junkies that I knew under the bridge
They were cats in the cradle-style, fucked up as kids
Poor side of town, ‘til they dust in the wind
Smokers lightened up by me, I just kept going
‘Til Dylan shouted “everybody must get stoned”
And now I’m puffing on some California berry strain
Petty as it seems, this is my last dance with Mary Jane
I said no to cocaine, told Clapton I’m straight
Wanted to rock with the band, but I passed on the weight
I bowed out the same who’s the greatest rapper debate
A little chicken fry to snack up a plate, kept going

[Chorus]
What’s up? What’s down?
What pans out of the standout in the crowd?
What’s right? What’s wrong?
How to determine a value of a song?

[Verse 2]
House packed, words seem to spread to afar
Dabbed the piano man and put some bread in his jar
There’s something wonderful surrounding this evening
The feeling Sublime, it’s something like your 40 Oz. To Freedom
I feel alive all of the sudden with the second wind
40 hour a week, so I get it in
Somebody on the couch dosing from the medicine
I seen the needle and the damage done; it ain’t from record spin
And I don’t see no changes
I bet they didn’t think the man in the mirror could be so dangerous
So I shook my head and now I’m looking out my backdoor
Girls, girls, girls. What could you ask for?
In the club when I hit the gig
They see you rapping Wanna Be With You and treat you like you Mr. Big
Told me I’m heartless when they hit the bricks
Angel in the Morning, please girl not after half the shit we did

[Chorus]
What’s up? What’s down?
What pans out of the standout in the crowd?
What’s right? What’s wrong?
How to determine a value of a song?

[Verse 3]
Suddenly the crib’s empty, same place I stood before
Still haven’t found what I’m looking for
The temptations: wild nights and living on the edge
For the satisfaction they never give you ‘til you dead
Under the pressure to move records to validate a destiny
Wouldn’t it be nice? But I let it be
Having the party. I love what I’ve been doing
For the record, I’m under the influence

[Chorus]
What’s up? What’s down?
What pans out of the standout in the crowd?
What’s right? What’s wrong?
How to determine a value of a song?