Pot of Gold
Wale Lyrics

The root of all evil, is sorta like The Roots new sequel
Money is the source of all evil, like a new installment of The Roots' music.

It's slavery
Money has people trapped like slaves.

Know Hailey need a sequence if they need it
People will do whatever it takes to acquire money, even if it means being dishonest.

Not even
Not even Hailey is exempt from this reality.

But seemingly believe it though
Despite knowing the truth, people still cling to the belief that money will bring them happiness.

See it's simply greed, it's such a need to say your broke
People are so consumed by greed that they pretend to be poor even when they have money.

Got fixation for that Home Simpson phrase
People have a fixation with the phrase 'D'oh!', uttered by Homer Simpson when he makes a mistake, indicating their constant failures when trying to acquire money.

Or prior to the re, mi, fa sol, la te
Money is like a musical scale where people are constantly striving to move up the notes to acquire more wealth.

The optimistic, pro on the lottery
People are optimistic about winning the lottery, even though the chances of winning are slim.

But more than not, and with prolly a whole lot less than the start
Most of the time, people end up with less than they started with when trying to acquire money.

It's all for the thought of havin' more than required
People's desire for money goes beyond their actual needs.

A smorgasbord to a dieter
Money is like an all-you-can-eat buffet to people, they can't resist indulging in it.

Sure it's hard to get it, but to have it is to fight it
Acquiring money is difficult, but once it's acquired, it's even harder to resist the temptation to spend it.

If you fight it then you own it and you have it then it's yours
Once people are able to control their desire for money, they can truly own it and use it to their benefit.

Huh, a metaphor of course
The previous statements are a metaphor for the lure and dangers of money.

But when you run your course you should correspond accordingly
People should learn to manage their money responsibly over time.

Then keep your change like an oink machine
After managing their money responsibly, people should save the extra like a piggy bank.

Then never touch it, like your goatee it's grown for years
People should continue to save their extra money and not spend it, just like how a goatee takes time to grow.

Asalaam Alaikum
A traditional Arabic greeting, possibly indicating a prayer for financial stability.

It's like I've got you one day, and then you go
Money is fleeting and unstable, just like relationships.

You're like the sun and winter, my pot of gold
Money is valuable, like a pot of gold that people search for.

All of the things you pay for, all the things I sold
People often have to sell things or sacrifice to acquire money.

So I could find my rainbow, my pot of gold
People seek after money like it's a rainbow leading to a pot of gold at the end.

Now most of us be rootin' for this evil
Most people are willing to do whatever it takes to acquire money, even if it's unethical.

Kaiser Soze, we never see him
Money has become so powerful that it controls people without them realizing it, like a mysterious figure in the movie 'The Usual Suspects'.

The face is replaced by an image, it happens when you spend it
Money's power is not only evident in how people spend it, but also in how they depend on it.

Ironically it subs like a hero
Money is like a hero that comes to the rescue, but its power is deceptive and selfish.

Sub like zero
Money is like sub-zero temperatures that freeze people in their tracks.

Subs like a teacher that ain't even supposed to be here
Money is like a teacher who is out of place, dictating people's lives even though it shouldn't.

Let me hear that beat, air
A request to hear the music, possibly indicating the need to distract from the harsh reality of money.

Don't it sound so Premier?
The music sounds appealing and pleasing, like the renowned DJ Premier's style.

It sound like, somethin' you niggas need to hear
The music may be a message that people need to hear about the dangers of money's power.

Women be here
Women are often involved in the pursuit and management of money.

They be jockin'
Women are often competing for the attention and money of men.

And they Hawkin'
Women are constantly watching and scouting out the money around them.

I call them hoes Josh Smith
A derogatory remark about women, comparing them to basketball player Josh Smith who had a reputation for taking too many shots and missing.

And it rules everything around them
Money controls and influences women's actions and decisions.

You ain't gettin' dough, don't even come around them
If you don't have money, women won't be interested in you.

She needs a lot of goods, she needs some Prada
Women are often obsessed with material possessions, like luxury brand Prada.

And her little baby daughter really love them Harry Potter books
Even children are influenced by money and material possessions, like the popular Harry Potter book series.

The more earned they yearn for, the more lethal
The more people earn, the more they desire, which can be dangerous and unhealthy.

The more small people at your door like please can I receive
The more money you have, the more people will ask for favors or help from you.

Cause I for sure need it
Peoeple are often desperate for money and the things it can buy.

Like I'm supposed to be a machine they all reach in
People view those with money as inhuman machines that they can take from without consequence.

But I'm all for my poeple
Despite the dangers and negative influences of money, the artist still advocates for benefiting oneself and others with it.

But hold up...I'm dreamin'
Despite the artist's positive message, he acknowledges that the possibility of people managing their money responsibly and ethically is still a dream.