Say You Need Me
Money is one thing, I want that, yeah
stack it till the floor sags and the numbers hit a point where they lose all sense
But the real kick is watching you bend
watching you stammer
watching you drop pride at my fence
You come to me late, hands twisted, voice rough
asking for a loan, a job
a signature to stop a collapse, I listen quiet
nod slow
feel that hot little thrill when your voice cracks.
You list every way you tried before you knocked
like you need me to know I am not the only shot you took
I drag it out
ask questions I already know the answers to
let you sweat in every crack and nook
I want the cash back, sure, I want interest, favors
leverage when I need my own rope in a storm
But above all
I want to hear you say it plain In its rawest form.
You think I am selling you lifelines
I am selling you humiliation dressed as grace
One phrase from your mouth Feeds this place.
Say you need me
that is the currency that tastes best in my veins
Say those three words like a prayer and a curse tangled up in the same chains
You can pay me back in cash or time or work till your hands tear
What I really hoard is the sound of you begging
“I need you there.”
Years pass, you clear the debt on paper, walk steadier
start to forget how low you sank in my hall
I drop reminders in casual talk
little “remember when I helped you” hooks to pull you back small
You laugh it off, but I see your shoulders drop
see the shame flare in your eyes
Good. That means my investment Still buys.
One day this all flips, I know that, my luck will crack
my ledger will bleed red lines down the screen
I will be the one making late calls with a shaking voice
asking some other bastard if they can step in between
I will hate every word I choke out
every syllable of “please” that leaves my lips raw
But I will say it, I will crawl.
Say you need me
that is the currency that tastes best in my veins
Say those three words like a prayer and a curse tangled up in the same chains
You can pay me back in cash or time or work till your hands tear
What I really hoard is the sound of you begging
“I need you there.”
When I am the one on the floor
calling in favors from ghosts with full hands and cold hearts
I will hear my own words come back like knives
Greed made me rich, Then ripped me apart.