The group delivers four short, but hard-hitting verses commenting on several major political and social issues. The track tackles issues such as homophobia, classism, racism, violence, and drug activity in the ghetto.
CASH
BROCKHAMPTON Lyrics
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Big money, big bands, simple bands
Get money, big bands, simple bands
Big money, big bands, simple bands
Get money, big bands, simple bands
Big money, big bands, simple bands
Get money, big bands, simple bands
Big money, big bands, simple bands
Rollin' in my truck, gotta keep it tucked
Because whitey wanna fuck with some niggas like us
Confederate flag, neighbors call me fag
Gotta keep it low, I keep that thang up in my bag
Whose society is this?
Who delayed my first kiss?
Who command my scholarship?
And kick us out our neighborhood?
Play our music make them rich
Play our music make amends
Box us in like plantains
Free all of my Africans
Nigga I slay, nigga I waste them them, waste them
There go that danger boy, that danger boy!
Niggas kill you for a dollar
Listen to them holler
Big blood ballers, with a crown on my corner
Crack and marijuana, slab around the corner
Sitting low elbows, syrup on the dashboard
Get money, big bands, simple bands
Big money, big bands, simple bands
Get money, big bands, simple bands
Big money, big bands, simple bands
Get money, big bands, simple bands
Big money, big bands, simple bands
Get money, big bands, simple bands
Big money, big bands, simple bands
I got a dream I'm willing to die for
I got a team I'll commit a crime for
Got some dead homies I ain't get to cry for
'Cuz I'm working for my freedom, while the world cry war
Cry wolf when the shepherd finds a way to strike gold
'Cuz the stocks gon' crash and the dollar gon' fold
You don't know that the poor eat the rich when there's no profit
They gave you the floor, but you brought up the wrong topic
So it's
Me against the world
The lyrics of BROCKHAMPTON's song CASH are a reflection on poverty and the American society that continues to perpetrate inequality. The refrain, "Get money, big bands, simple bands; Big money, big bands, simple bands," questions the way money is valued in society, with the singer highlighting the idea of money being on everyone's mind. The repetition of the phrase emphasizes society's obsession with money, which has become the primary drive for human interaction, leaving genuine connections behind.
The verse "Rollin' in my truck, gotta keep it tucked, Because whitey wanna fuck with some niggas like us" gives an insight into the lived experience of people of color in America. The lyrics ("Confederate flag, neighbors call me fag, Gotta keep it low, I keep that thang up in my bag") discuss the experience of racism and homophobia, with the singer having to keep a gun in his bag for protection. It makes the listener aware of the violence Black and LGBT communities face every day. The lyric, "Whose society is this?" suggests that society's injustices and inequalities hurt everyone, and the issues relate to systemic oppression, not just individual experiences.
The use of the phrase, "Get money, big bands, simple bands," throughout the song is a critique of consumerism and materialism, which has been internalized and normalized in American culture. The song's use of repetition emphasizes how people are programmed to think material possessions are central to their being, with the call to "Get money" being the cultural call to action. However, the lyrics create a contrast between the obsessive desire for possessions and the marginalization of particular communities, challenging the values of the culture at large.
Line by Line Meaning
Get money, big bands, simple bands
I want money, lots of it, but I don't need it to be fancy or complicated
Big money, big bands, simple bands
It's important to me to have a lot of money, even if I don't need fancy or complicated things
Rollin' in my truck, gotta keep it tucked
I have to hide my gun because white people might try to hurt me and my friends
Because whitey wanna fuck with some niggas like us
We are afraid of white people who might try to hurt us because of our skin color
Confederate flag, neighbors call me fag
My neighbors disrespect me by flying a flag that represents a history of slavery, and they use homophobic slurs against me
Gotta keep it low, I keep that thang up in my bag
I have to be secretive about carrying a gun to protect myself in case someone tries to hurt me or my friends
Whose society is this?
I feel like I don't belong or have a place in a society that discriminates against me
Who delayed my first kiss?
I am angry that societal discrimination and oppression robbed me of important experiences, such as intimacy and love
Who command my scholarship?
Even the opportunities that are supposed to help me succeed and break out of this cycle of oppression are controlled by those who seek to keep me down
And kick us out our neighborhood?
People in power often make it difficult or impossible for people like me to have a stable place to live and call home
Play our music make them rich
People who profit off of our culture and experiences do not truly understand or respect us
Play our music make amends
We hope that our music can be a way for people to understand and connect with us, and maybe even make up for wrongs done in the past
Box us in like plantains
We are treated like commodities or things to be used instead of human beings with thoughts and emotions
Free all of my Africans
We want freedom and liberation for all people of African descent who have been oppressed and exploited throughout history
Nigga I slay, nigga I waste them them, waste them
We are not afraid to defend ourselves and our communities, even if it means using violence
There go that danger boy, that danger boy!
We are seen as dangerous and threatening by those in power, when all we want is to be treated with respect and fairness
Niggas kill you for a dollar
People will do terrible things for money, even if it means hurting or killing others
Listen to them holler
We are used to hearing cries of pain and suffering all around us
Big blood ballers, with a crown on my corner
We may be surrounded by poverty and violence, but we still strive to be powerful and successful in our own way
Crack and marijuana, slab around the corner
We live in a world of drug addiction and poverty, where people will do whatever they can to survive
Sitting low elbows, syrup on the dashboard
We take pride in our cars and our style, even when we have very little else to be proud of
I got a dream I'm willing to die for
I have a vision of a better future, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make that future a reality
I got a team I'll commit a crime for
I am loyal to my friends and community, and I will do whatever it takes to protect and support them
Got some dead homies I ain't get to cry for
I have lost friends and loved ones to violence and tragedy, and I have not been able to fully process my grief and pain
'Cuz I'm working for my freedom, while the world cry war
I am trying to improve my own life and my community's future, even while the world around us is full of chaos and conflict
Cry wolf when the shepherd finds a way to strike gold
People in power often manipulate and deceive us, even when they claim to be helping us
'Cuz the stocks gon' crash and the dollar gon' fold
The economy is unstable and unreliable, and we cannot rely on it to provide for us or ensure our safety and well-being
You don't know that the poor eat the rich when there's no profit
When the economy fails and there is no more wealth to be gained, those who were once rich and powerful may become vulnerable to those they have exploited and oppressed
They gave you the floor, but you brought up the wrong topic
We are often shut down and silenced when we try to speak up about important issues that affect us and our communities
So it's me against the world
We often feel alone and unsupported in our struggle for justice and equality
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ameer Vann, Clifford Simpson, Dominique Simpson, Jabari Manwarrir, Romil Hemnani, Russell Boring, William Wood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind