Problems
Cee Lo Green/Ludacris Lyrics

They say Luda would you rather have the money or the fame
People ask Ludacris if he prefers wealth or notoriety

And I steady try to tell em that it all just depends
But he believes it's situation-dependent

Cause every time I make a lil more money
As he accumulates more riches

I seem to be losing more of my friends
He notices that he's becoming more estranged from his acquaintances

So I'd give it all up to repeat life over
He would trade everything to relive his life if possible

And they'd say dude is a fool
Others would consider him foolish for thinking like that

I can't trust another motherfucker living in this world
Ludacris has lost faith in humanity

And this really got me losing my cool
It's stressing him out

What would you'd do if you were in my situation
He's asking for advice from a hypothetical audience

And any and everyone you ever loved to say you lucked up
But the people he loves accuse him of getting lucky

You drink your pain to the bottom of a bottle
He turns to alcohol to cope with his suffering

And the Conjure would have you fucked up
A reference to a specific alcohol brand named Conjure

So I'm looking for love in all the wrong places
He's searching for affection in inappropriate locations

Pop pills, drink liquor by the cases
He uses drugs and drinks heavily

Get high, make a woman get low
He engages in sexual intercourse with intoxicated women

In the strip club looking for familiar faces
He frequents strip clubs hoping to see people he knows

People know me on a first name basis
He's recognized by many

But all they ever really want is my cash
But they're only interested in his money

Let me borrow just a couple hundred dollars
They often ask him for a loan

And you know that I'm a pay you back, my ass
But he doubts they'll ever repay him

This world so superficial
He thinks the world is shallow

They say Ludacris you've changing
Others believe he's changed

But I really don't give a fuck
But he doesn't care about their opinions

What the hell am I suppose to think?
He's unsure of what to believe

What the hell am I suppose to do?
He's uncertain of how to act

I'm hearing that the devil's in disguise
There are rumors of deceitful people around him

And I'm hearing that the nigga look just like you
Ludacris suspects that someone close to him is betraying him

They know I walk throw the valley of the shadow of death
Ludacris acknowledges his hardships

I don't go astray
He stays true to himself

And I get down on my knees and pray and I say
He relies on prayer to overcome his struggles

(Okay, okay, okay) I wish my problems would go away
He wishes his difficulties would disappear

Doc said I need to change my diet
His doctor recommended he alter his eating habits

'Cause I'm really not eating right
He's not eating properly

Mama said I need some peace and quiet,
His mother advised him to seek tranquility

'Cause I'm really not sleeping right
He's not sleeping well

What's the use of having all the money
He's questioning the worth of wealth

And the power in the world, if I can't abuse it?
If he can't use his influence for personal gain, what's the point?

Seems like the only thing that's keeping me together, is my music
Music is his only source of stability

If it wasn't for that, I think I would lose it
Without it, he thinks he'd go insane

When nobody made good on they word
People don't keep their promises

In the industry make you feel like, "Fuck you, pay me!"
People in the entertainment industry prioritize profits over relationships

Cause I gotta feed family, some of the same ones that abandoned me
He feels obligated to provide for family members who previously deserted him

That still looking for a hand out
But they still expect financial assistance

Til you found out there ain't shit ya handed me
Until they realize he doesn't owe them anything

Hah, still mad at me?
They're still resentful towards him anyways

But I'm trying to be the man I plan to be
Ludacris is attempting to live up to his own ideals

But can't do it if you calling me "with" dumb shit
But he's hindered by others who insult or deride him

Thinking "it's" innocent, I'm a "plead" insanity
Others don't realize how harmful their actions and words can be

Too many distractions and it feels like everyday
He's overwhelmed by the constant interruptions and obstacles

So I get down on my knees and pray and I say
And once again, he resorts to prayer

(Okay, okay, okay) I wish my problems would go away
He reiterates his desire for his issues to vanish

I finally made it to the top of the CEO position
Ludacris has achieved success in a leadership role

But when things don't go their way,
But when things aren't favorable for others

These artists got all these suspicions
The artists under his direction accuse him of foul play

So the weed keep me at peace, and I think I need an intervention
To deal with the stress, he smokes marijuana but acknowledges he needs help

Who the fuck put me in charge of making all of these decisions
He questions why he was entrusted with so much responsibility

My position got me stressing, like it never did before
His current role has intensified his stress more than ever

Not to mention my best friend drowned and death was knocking at his door
In addition, his closest friend passed away tragically

And it seems like someone in my family is passing away like every day
Lastly, he's losing family members regularly

So I just look up to the sky and get on my knees and pray and I say
Again, his only solace is prayer

(Okay, okay, okay) I wish my problems would go away
One final repetition of his desire for his problems to disappear

(Okay, okay, okay) I wish my problems would go away, away, away
...and another

I wish my problems would go away, away, away
And a final time