►: Lyrics

I bought my pretty baby a pawn shop diamond ring.
I got my little lady a pawn shop diamond ring.
A little something semiprecious for my most precious thing.

You know I never missed one payment on that 6 month layaway.
No, I never missed a payment on that 6 month layaway.
And yesterday I hit my number and I paid it off today.

When I slipped it on her finger her eyes outshined that stone.
Yea, when I slipped it on her finger her eyes outshined that stone.
Just like a little bitty child with a great big ice cream cone.

I love the way that diamond shines up on your little hand.
I said I love the way it sparkles all up on your little hand.
And it tells everybody you’re my woman and I’m your man.

I bought my pretty baby a pawnshop diamond ring.
Yea I got my little lady a pawn shop diamond ring.
A little something semiprecious for my most precious thing.

Here we go
A little something semiprecious for my most precious thing.

Holy moly Mama come here look and see
Let me show you sugar what you get for free
Holy moly Mama, don’t you know it’s true?
I got a full line of sweets on my menu
I want you…whoo, hoo, hoo
To want me too

Holy moly Mama come and check this out
Getting’ your attention’s what I’m all about
Holy moly Mama, know what I can do?
I can be the makin’s in your favorite stew
I want you…whoo, hoo, hoo
To want me too

Come here Mama, better come here quick
Get up in my serving line and take your pick
Hurry Mama, don’t you wait too late
It’s hot and steaming, let me fill your plate

Oh… Holy moly Mama, savin’ you a seat
Come up in my kitchen, don’t you feel the heat?
Holy moly Mama, got a dish or two
And I got ‘em cookin’ on my stove for you
I want you…whoo, hoo, hoo
To want me too

Come here Mama, better come here fast
I hope you’re hungry for this fine repast
For you Mama, it’s all you can eat
I guarantee you, it will be a treat

The way you do me darlin’, it’s a low down dirty shame.
The way you do me darlin’, it’s a low down dirty shame.
You knew the take home on my paycheck long before you ever knew my name.

My savings are all gone, and my bank account is clean.
My savings are all gone, and my bank account is clean.
I give you everything I had, still you treat me so cold & so mean.

I can’t be your sugar daddy when you throw it all away.
I can’t be your sugar daddy when you throw it all away.
What it’s costin’ me to keep you, ain’t no way I’m gonna pay.

Now listen—
My refrigerator’s empty and my cupboards are all bare.
My refrigerator’s empty and my cupboards are stone bare.
You expect me just to keep you, but you still won’t do your share.

The way you do me darlin’, it’s a low down dirty shame.
The way you do me darlin’, it’s a low down dirty shame.
You knew the take home on my paycheck long before you ever knew my name.

When I go walkin’ out on the streets
No matter where I am in this world.
I can’t take a step—no I can’t make a move
Without seeing another pretty little girl.

It does no good to try to ignore them
I see more the harder I try
If I make up my mind not to take notice
Some sweet little thing comes along and catches my eye.

Well Hey look a yonder
What’s that I see
Another pretty little woman
Lookin’ over and makin’ eyes at me.

Went down to the club early last night
Determined I wasn’t gonna look
Ran into a friend who introduced his sister
Now there’s 900 pages in my little black book.

I guess it’s time I was resigned to the fact
Even though some times I get tired
I love the girls too much to ever stop lookin’
Can’t help getting caught up in that same old crossfire.

Lookin’ over—she’s makin’ eyes at me
I’m in a crossfire baby
Another crossfire

Ain’t no payback on your mind / When you give yourself so free,
And there’s no doubt, it ain’t about / Boy, what’s in this deal for me
There’s no questions left to ask / Ain’t no need to second guess,
There’s no doubt, it’s all about / Getting good as we can get
You ain’t waiting for a free ride / You ain’t looking for a fling
We got a real good thing / Yeah girl, we got a real good thing

4 We got a real good thing
4 We got a special deal
1 We got a gift so rare
1 We got a love that’s real
2 We got beyond our past
2 We grabbed the golden ring
5 We won the prize at last ( fast change )
1 We got a real good thing

There’s no need to worry now / Ain’t no reason for regret
And there’s no doubt, it ain’t about / Finding cause to fuss and fret
There’s no games you have to play / It’s not something you can fake
There ain’t no doubt, it’s all about / Learning how to give and take
You ain’t handing me no lines / You don’t put me on a string
We got a real good thing / Yeah boy, we got a real good thing

There’s no call for jealous thoughts / ‘cause on me you can depend
And there’s no doubt, it’s all about / Hanging out and hanging in
There’s no reason to slow down / Ain’t no need to hold too tight
And there’s no doubt, it’s all about / Doing just what feels so right
We ain’t ashamed to tell the world / & It makes us want to sing
We got a real good thing / For sure, we got a real good thing

4 We got a real good thing
4 We got a special deal
1 We got a gift so rare
1 We got a love that’s real
2 We got beyond our past
2 We grabbed the golden ring
5 We won the prize at last ( fast change )
1 We got a real good thing

If money won’t buy your dreams
Then honey it’s your lucky day
‘Cause all I got is some pocket change
And a pile of bills to pay
If money don’t mean that much
Then you just hit the jackpot
‘Cause if good lovin’ is what you want
Good lovin’ is what I got
If what it takes to fill you up
Is a man who will be true
Even if he’s got no money
Then honey, I’m the man for you

If money don’t float your boat
Then honey I’m your treasure chest
I don’t have much in my savings account
‘Cause givin’s what I do best
If money won’t buy you happiness
Then honey I got the key
‘Cause if good lovin’ is what you need
You better come on home with me
If what it takes to make you happy
Is a man who wants you too
Even if he’s got no money
Then honey, I’m the man for you


If money won’t win your heart
Then honey give it to me
If we both just do our part
Well sugar that’s my specialty
If money won’t buy your dreams
Then honey just go for broke
‘Cause if good lovin’ is what you want
Then honey this ain’t no joke
If what it takes to win your love
Is a man who loves you too
Even if he’s got no money
Then honey, I’m the man for you…

…And if what it takes to fill you up
And make your dreams come true
Is a good man with no money
Then honey,
I’m the man for you
Can’t you hear me
And what I’m saying to you
I’m the man for you

I’ve been missin’ you, for so long
I’m tired of missin’ you, and I’m tired of bein’ alone
And I’ve been missin’ you, for so long—for so long.

I can’t really say, how long you’ve been gone
But it feels like such a long time, and it feels like somethin’s wrong
And I’ve been missin’ you, for so long—for so long.

Girl, I’ve been wishin’ that you’d just come on home
I’m tired of wishin’ you were here, and wonderin’ where you’ve gone
And I’ve been missin’ you, for so long—for so long.

It don’t do no good, to holler, cry, or moan
It ain’t no good without you, and I’m sinkin’ like a stone
And I’ve been missin’ you, for so long—for so long.

I’ve been missing you for long
I’m tired of missing you, and I’m tired of bein’ alone
And I’ve been missing you for so long—for so long.
I’ve been missing you for so long—for so long.
I’ve been missing you for so long—for so long.

Who can say what anybody—who can say what I can
who can say what everybody wants to know about the gumbo

Chorus:
Hey, hey, hey, hey—hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey—Whoa, the gumbo

Down along the river bottom—down along the river
see ‘em playing, hear ‘em saying, “Have a taste of this gumbo.”

Who the people in the middle—who the people on the outside
How you find ‘em, how you fix ‘em, how they makin’ their gumbo.

Chorus
Hey, hey, hey, hey—hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey—Whoa, the gumbo

In the mornin’, in a peareau, in the middle of the bayou
See the Indian, see the Cajun, See the heart of the Gumbo.

See ‘em runnin’, see ‘em hidin’—see ‘em all getting’ busted
Round ‘em up and fill the jails, and pass a law against the Gumbo.

Chorus
Hey, hey, hey, hey—hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey—Whoa, the gumbo

I don’t want to go to war—and I don’t want to pay taxes
I don’t want my Ma to know that all I want is my gumbo

It looks just like a problem if you picture it that way.
And it’s hard to get the word out when you ain’t got nothin’ to say.
So I’m askin’ you this riddle, baby, just to see if you recall
See if you recall
If life is a hall, and time is a wall
Where you gonna hang that picture, mama, when there ain’t no time at all.

It looks just like a red light if it’s the only one you’ve seen.
You got to look both ways before you go, before your blues turn green.
So I’m askin’ you this riddle, baby, just to let you know the score
Know the score
If life is a store and time is the door, then
Where you gonna get your credit, mama, when it ain’t open no more.

I know it looks just like a put down when you slip and put it there.
And I know that my words can be turned and twisted til it looks like I don’t care.
So I’m askin’ you this riddle, baby, just to hear you called by name
Called by name
If life is a game and time is the same, then
Where you gonna point your pistol, mama, when there’s no one else to blame.

It looks just like a gamble when you don’t know the outcome.
And if you let it be known you need the insurance, they’ll sho nuff sell you some.
So I’m asking you this riddle, baby, just to find out how you feel
How you feel
How you gonna cut and shuffle, mama, when it come down to your deal.

You know my teacher tol’ me, back when I was still in school
Your grades been steady slippin’, you been acting like a fool
You never get your lessons, and you won’t apply yourself
Its like you’re just daydreamin’, got your mind on somethin’ else

But…But…
Miss Teacher you’re so fine, and I got my mind on you
Let’s you and me trade places, and I’ll teach you a thing or two

That teacher had her mind set, and she never cracked a smile
She handed me my folder, said its all here in your file
You’re always in detention, or else you’re late to class
If you never pay attention, how you think you gonna pass?

But…But…
Miss teacher you’re so fine, and I’m payin’ attention to you
Let’s me and you trade places, and I’ll teach you a thing or two

She knew I wasn’t listenin’, but she gave it one last try
She got her fine self in my face, and she looked me in the eye
She said you got a good mind, but you sure ain’t thinking straight
And I hope you get the message, before its just too late

But…But…
Miss teacher you’re so fine, and I sho’ been thinking ‘bout you
Let’s me and you trade places, and I’ll teach you a thing or two

It’s personal
To you and me
It’s permanent
From A to Z
It’s precious
And that’s how it’s got to be
When we take it
Personally

It’s purposeful
Undoubtedly
It’s persistent
In its plausibility
It’s probable
And that’s how it has to be
When we live it
Purposefully

It’s positive
It’s a certainty
It’s persuasive
In its authenticity
It’s pleasing
And that’s how it’s meant to be
When we know it
Positively

When we take it like we find it
When we feel that it’s all real
When we get ourselves behind it
That’s when we seal the deal
When we get it and we let it
And that works so perfectly
That’s when we know we got it
Personally

It’s passionate
So potently
It’s powerful
In intensity
It’s perpetual
And that’s how it needs to be
When we feel it
Passionately

It’s plentiful
Unlimitedly
It’s priceless
For its quality
It’s perfectible
And that’s how it ought to be
When we give it
Plentifully

It’s playful
In the first degree
It’s permissive
Intentionally
It’s provocative
And that’s how it wants to be
When we do it
Playfully

When we take it like we find it
When we feel that it’s all real
When we get ourselves behind it
That’s when we seal the deal
When we get it and we let it
And that works so perfectly
That’s when we know we got it
Personally

What you do--is good for you, when good is very good
Time to go ain’t never slow, cause the time comes when it should.
What feels right—can be just right, when feelin’ finds the way.
What you get is what you get, but Babe—I don’t get it yet.

What is past—is gone at last, and gone is really gone.
Night is night and light is light—and light comes with the dawn.
Now is now—and that id how we get from day to day.
What you get is what you get, but Babe—I don’t get it yet.

Reach out and touch it now, reach out and feel.
See how it comes to you, know that it’s real.
Time in to live your life, time out to stay.
Time is for what you are, and what you are ain’t far away.

Reach out and touch it now, reach out and feel.
See how it comes to you, know that it’s real.
Time in to live your life, time out to stay.
Time is for what you are, and what you are ain’t far away.

When is when it all begins and starting is a start.
I got a call to do it all and all is more than part.
Just like that is where it’s at, and never furthermore.
What I got is what I got—and when I look it over

It’s a lot—y’all.
Yea it’s a lot

She want’ all the latest styles
She want’ to drive a big fine car
She want’ to live up in some high rise
Up where all the Fat Cats are
She want’ to eat out every day
At some high class restaurant
She want’ to dance the night away
And she want’ just what she want’

Chorus:
She want’ cream in her coffee
She want’ sugar in her tea
She want’ cream in her coffee
Pure cane sugar in her tea
Tryin’ to get that woman what she want’
‘bout to get the best of me

She want’ fancy French perfume
Shoes come from Italy
She want’ a full deck of credit cards
To take out on a shopping spree
She want’ to drink the finest wine
She want’ to gamble with my pay
She want’ everything that’s mine
And she want’ it all her way

Chorus:
She want’ cream in her coffee
She want’ sugar in her tea
She want’ cream in her coffee
Pure cane sugar in her tea
Tryin’ to get that woman what she want’
‘bout to get the best of me

She want’ to go off with her friends
On a long vacation trip
Get on board and sail away
On some big cruise liner ship
She want’ top grade furniture
For that penthouse where she stay’
She want’ me to rock her all night
long
After workin’ hard all day

Chorus:
She want’ cream in her coffee
She want’ sugar in her tea
She want’ cream in her coffee
Pure cane sugar in her tea
Tryin’ to get that woman what she want’
‘bout to get the best of me

Think I could’a saved the day.
Bet it would’a paved the way.
Never should’a made that claim.
Doubt it would’a stayed the same.
I know, I’m all mixed up,
But I’m learnin’.

Doubt I could’a aced that test.
Bet I would’a spaced the rest.
Guess I should’a got in line.
Never would’a, not in time.
I know, it’s kinda rough,
But I’m learnin’.

Bet I could’a righted wrong
Think I would’a hung that long.
Never should’a laid the blame.
Doubt I could’a played their game.
I know, it’s just too much,
But I’m learnin’.

Think I could’a done a lot.
Either would’a won or not
Never should’a booked that trip.
Probably should’a took that tip.
I know, it’s just my luck,
But I’m learnin’.

Yes, I could’a played these blues.
Guess I would’a paid my dues.
Never should’a blown that lead.
And I should’a known I’d bleed.
I know, I gotta trust,
But I’m learnin’.

Don’t let the fire
Of a burning desire
Die out
Or ever burn low
Don’t let the drive
To be all out alive
Shut down
Or ever run slow

Don’t let the fear
Make a dream disappear
Or make you
Forget what you know
Don’t let the doubt
Make you take the wrong route
Or set you
Adrift in the snow

Don’t let a loss
Make you question the cost
Or stop you
With nothing to show
Don’t let the chase
Make you take up the race
Or leave you
With nowhere to go

Don’t let your drive
To be all out alive
Shut down
Or ever run slow
Don’t let the fire
Of a burning desire
Die out
Or ever burn low