Dreams ft. Brandon Hines
J. Cole Lyrics

Hey, I got a dollar and a dream
I don't have much, but I have hope and ambition

That's all a nigga got
I'm starting from the bottom with very little resources

So if it's 'bout that cream
If it's about making money and succeeding

Then I'm all up in the spot
Then I'll do whatever it takes to get there

I got a dollar and a dream
I have very little, but I'm striving for more

Just a dollar and a dream
That's all I need to start making progress

Walk with a nigga, I give you my pain
I'm willing to share my struggles with you

So much on my mind I wonder how it fit in my brain
I have a lot of thoughts and concerns weighing on me

Scattered thoughts, dark secrets lead me to a blacker heart
My inner turmoil and secrets have made me feel jaded and unhappy

Life can't get any worse, Stevie with his glasses off
Things feel so bad that it's like Stevie Wonder could see it without his glasses

'Cause I still don't see hope, lookin' for a quick fix
I'm struggling to find hope and am looking for a quick solution to my problems

When everyone I see is broke, get lost in weed smoke
I feel surrounded by poverty and turn to smoking weed to cope

Knowing it make it worse, thoughts roam uncontrollably
I know it's not helping, but my thoughts are spiraling out of control

Barely trustin' niggas, over a decade they been knowin' me
I find it hard to trust people even after knowing them for years

Shit, life at the bottom, nobody but God got 'em
Life is rough when you're at the bottom, and it feels like only God can help

They say he wouldn't leave me yet I'm fallin' like it's Autumn
People say God won't abandon me, but I feel like I'm failing anyway

Tell me, what do you do just when you're on your last dollar
When you have almost nothing left, what do you do?

And the stress of this mess you're in can make your ass holla?
The stress and struggle can make you want to give up and scream

Do you fold, grow bitter and grow cold?
Do you give up and become angry and resentful?

No longer fightin' now the only thing you grow is old
If you stop fighting, you'll just grow old without progress

Or do you flip that fuckin' dollar to a dream?
Do you turn your small amount of money into a big dream?

Whether a scholar or a fiend, watch a pawn become a king
Regardless of where you come from, you can rise to greatness

Young nigga with his jeans low
Referring to himself, a young man with sagging pants

Nice guy just got a mean flow
Although he's a nice person, he has a fierce rap style

Never seen rich but he's seen po'
He hasn't had much money, but he knows what it's like to be poor

Mr. Dolla and a Dream in case you ain't know
Introducing himself as 'Mr. Dolla and a Dream'

Yeah, armed and ready, you niggas strung out, you spaghetti
He's ready for success, while others seem lost and weak ('strung out' like a drug addict)

Your paper, confetti, small time, y'all on one, I'm on mine
He sees others as insignificant (like paper confetti) and small-time, while he's focused on his own success

You logged off 'cause I'm online, small talk from small minds
Others aren't as driven or focused as him; they're idle while he's active ('logged off' vs. being 'online')

I wanna buy the mall but there ain't shit in this small town
He has big dreams, but his small town doesn't have the resources or opportunities needed to make them happen

This where I get my dough
Despite the challenges, he's making money here

My niggas make sure that money right and then I rip the show
His friends help him make sure he's financially stable, then he puts on a great performance

I run the town they tried to call me underground
Despite being underestimated, he's the one making a name for himself in his town

I spun around like, you wish
He's dismissing anyone who doubted him

Homie my backpack Louis, now watch just how I do this
His backpack (with presumably some valuable items inside) is a status symbol

I got the nerds rappin' hard shit, dummies rappin' smart shit
He's showing off the range of people he's influenced through his music

Mozart meets Humphrey Bogart with this from the heart shit
His music is a mix of classical refinement (Mozart) and cool style (Bogart)

Play your part, life is but a dream for me
He's living his dream and trying to inspire others to do the same

I get a flash of nightmares where niggas scheme on me
Even in his success, he still has fear and paranoia that others might try to bring him down

It's hard to see my enemies, who infiltrated my team?
He's questioning who his real friends are and who is actually trying to harm him

I take a step back and notice that things ain't what they seem
He's trying to stay vigilant and not let his guard down

That's when a nigga refocus, yeah I turn on them high beams
He's refocusing and preparing for anything that comes his way

I got that red dot waitin', I'm wastin' your whole regime
He's ready to take down anyone who tries to get in his way (with a targeted laser sight)

I wish a nigga would, boy you can't out-smart me
He's confident in his abilities and won't let anyone out-smart him

I let you feel like you the shit, but boy you can't out-fart me
He'll let someone feel confident, but he's still the one in control

You never, have it, I know you want what I got
Others are jealous of his success and want what he has

But nigga you ain't me, but you are what I'm not
Others might want to be like him, but they're not him

And that's a phony ass, lonely ass, Cole is what you know me as
Others might think they know him, but they don't really

But we far from homies, if you know my mama, you know me
Just because someone knows his mother doesn't mean they know him and are his friend

Man she been workin' too hard, I should send her a bouquet
He's grateful for his hardworking mother and wants to send her a gift

My goal this year is a real one, gonna stack a million
His goal is to make a lot of money this year

And as soon as I do, mama that 9 to 5 is through
When he makes enough money, his mother won't have to work a regular job anymore

And I know I ain't been callin', but I'm thinkin' 'bout you
He hasn't kept in touch like he should, but he still thinks of his loved ones

And all the shit that you been through
He acknowledges that his loved ones have faced hardships

My girl and then my brother too
He's concerned for his girlfriend and his brother

'Cause this life get hard on this road, yeah it's true
The struggles of his career and lifestyle can be difficult

I don't never tell you how much I be stressin', but I do
He doesn't like to burden his loved ones with his stress, but he feels it

But I suck it up for who? My fans, and my mans
He tries to persevere for the sake of his fans and friends

Who probably never ever had this type of lifestyle in they plans
He acknowledges that his lifestyle might be a dream for some of his fans and friends

Hoppin' in and out of vans, on the buses, on the planes
He's constantly traveling for his work

Gettin' brain from a bitch and thinkin' "God damn, what's her name?"
He's having sexual encounters with women and doesn't even remember their names

Sometimes I just shake my head and tell myself this is a shame
He recognizes that some aspects of his lifestyle aren't ideal or respectful

And then my other side kick in like "Bitch don't be so fuckin' lame"
But another part of him tries to justify and rationalize his behavior

Dang, what a life, another day, another night
He reflects on the ups and downs of his life

At times this shit is all blurry, pray and hope that God heard me
Sometimes he feels lost and unclear, but he tries to stay hopeful and pray

Just for those praying for me, man I know that y'all worry
He's aware that others are concerned for him and appreciates their support

But I ain't never failed and you can bet I never will
Despite the challenges, he's confident in his ability to succeed

Look what a nigga made out the shit that I was given
He's proud of what he's accomplished given where he started

Got a dollar and a dream
He's reminding listeners of his humble beginnings and aspirations

Three
This is the end of the song