On Fix Income
Paper trail
Diploma, BA, 1040EZ
Led to SSI that is real
Might be broke at the end of the month
But busy like a bee
Don’t need a time card to punch
Traveled the world
Met my girl
Dollar is not what I need
Got my section eight condo
Dancing with Uncle Sam twisted feet in the Tango
On fix income gives me freedom
Got to do what I got to do
Creative paperwork
Doctor's note & proof of income
This is work
Crossing my t’s & dotting my i’s
Reading what’s between the lines
No, Jerry Lewis didn’t heal me
So why do I have to convince u annually
I still have a disability
Kripple US President
Gave me what Congress now trying to take back
FDR hide his disability and aired his racism
Living with contradictions
American dream
Killing MLK’s dream
Sleeping in the middle of the day
Capitalism is not my hands of time
Greek culture rocking me in a siesta
The state gives & takes it away
Political winds blows each & every way
We know what is right & what should stay
Don’t need political winds in my ear
The Deaf can hear the truth
Putting it on the mic in the studio booth
All of this & more on fix income
Paying landlord for a home
Elders & youth in a nursing home
Now I’m alone
At&t cut off my phone
Doctor’s note in my pocket cause I always need proof
On fix income
But my life is not fix
Property manager won’t fix shit
First of the month
Rent but my nephews are always sick
Mildew, windows closed but feels open
Ring ring ring
Bill collectors doing their thing
I continue to do mine
Days blend together
Out weathering the storm
On the man’s plantation picking cotton & corn
Budget cuts
Peeps jumping out of windows
Streets flooding with blood
Up and down San Francisco’s hills
Poor people know how to survive on little
While the rich popping pills
Rip up paper
Broken promises
Now student loans in default but isn’t my fault
Day after graduation they came knocking
While states can’t balance their own budget
Uncle Sam’s hands in my pocket
Move over yeah right there
Now jerk me off god damnit
Nothing but balls so play pocket pool you fool
Won’t never have
A two-car garage
White picket fence & a mortgage
My people were already property
You can fool me once I already took out a loan
So I don’t have the urge to own
Direct deposit
Everything under the table
Black man can’t ever get comfortable
Cointelpro 24/7
Cameras in certain communities
Reality TV shows without commercials
In the middle of the month eating mac & cheese another day
Easter hunt for spare change for bus fare
Boss doc my pay cause public transportation was late
Fuck it I’ll stay home
Collect a monthly check
No more playing tug of war
I know what I get
And when it comes
Living on fix income
By Leroy Moore
