His front yard was only eight by ten feet, but he took Pride in his lawn so every blade was kept green all season No pesticides, he trusted what the earth provided Besides like every day the neighbour's dog came by to fertilize it There was no bird bath to perch on and sing No bush, no flowerbeds, no mighty oak or birch with a swing That was 'til one year on the first day of spring He got an envelope with nothing but his first name in ink upon it He tore it open, wondering what it could be about But found no letter in it, tapped it lightly and a seed fell out He thought a minute, curious to what would grow Then walked out to the shed to grab a spade and dug a hole He put it right into the middle of the yard and gave it water And a single drop of blood from his finger, like a pagan offer The next morning he was looking for a sprout And was astounded when he found it stood a foot out of the ground Imagine! A week went by, it raised an inch above his head He double checked his measurements, then he stood and rubbed his neck confused Neighbours watched and tried to figure what he fed it Because in this short amount of time it was already set to bloom The next day he saw some buds on the branches Start to open so his eyes were looking bloodshot an anxious to see Now try to picture the expression on his grill When he starked them leaves emerging only twenty dollar bills Ker-ching! Microphone check check one two Shouts to the family tree check check one two Microphone check yo check one two Shouts to the family tree mic check one two Took in a huge (gasp), and held it in his (huff) Then he whispered to himself, "I'm gonna need a bigger fence" He figured that the bills were ripe, so he got- His laundry baskets, filled it right to the top And then he went and stashed the cash beneath his mattress thinking back To pick the rest he had left seemed like it'd blessed him with a sizable crop But half the block was gaining interest on his spot whether he liked it not These kids were set to get a taste, there was no time on the clock to spend He built his fence from iron bars with barbed wire Lined the yard with land mines and guard dogs that barked fire Then he climbed the eaves draw, with a rifle and a lawn chair And sat up on his roof watching his neighbors through the cross-hair (Wink!) And if he would have checked his answering machine He's hear his boss had fired him because he'd been absent for a week His main squeeze was on there too, with a message to deliver Said, "we're through and thats the last time that you stand me up for dinner" Click! But the first batch he picked was premature and different greens Serial numbers incomplete, the holograms were even blurred For the rest of the crop, he knew he'd have to leave it longer And this harvest could be huge the roots were growing even stronger Small as his house was, he couldn't afford the bills But now it looked like he'd be raking in at least a quarter mill' Poured some milk, and tossed a couple burgers on his foreman grill But stayed rooted at the window, eyes green from chlorophyll Microphone check check one two Shouts to the family tree check check one two Microphone check yo check one two Shouts to the family tree mic check one two All of a sudden, twenties turned from green to yellow to red Now with a fifty on each one of 'em, he hit the floor cold Couldn't believe it but he'd seen it and he knew just what was coming If these bills were turning brown then he would have a pile of hundreds By tomorrow - and sure enough they did Decided not to pick them though he'd wait until he saw the colours shift again He'd never even seen a thousand dollar bill And didn't know what colour to be looking for but kept his eyes peeled, Heard a gust of wind rushing in and rustling the foliage And now a single leaf was slowly drifting to the ground He picked it up, it crumbled into dust Waited too late in the cycle man he couldn't get enough Now he's still sitting by that money tree I know it's too much Somebody ought'a go and tell that fool they only bloom once Now he's still sitting by that money tree I know it's too much Somebody ought'a go and tell that fool they only bloom once Now he's still sitting by that money tree I know it's too much Somebody ought'a go and tell that fool they only bloom once ... You gotta know just when to pick them 'cause they only bloom once... RIP Alexander (Al Bender) Buchanan (July 19, 1980 - March 1, 2018) One of my favourite MCs to come out of KOTD. From your battles to your music, you will be sorely missed.
Long Live BENDER 🕊 🕊 🕊 Thank you for sharing the lyrics brother. We speak about BENDER on quite a few of my podcast episodes. Most recently with JUNK from out West. But that's not what this is about. Honestly thank you the lyrics have such meaning behind them its an amazing track. Structure of the bars was beautiful . Peace my brother and BENDER FOREVER!!!!!
Bender for years me and my mates used to drink at a tree near my estate then alot of people started drinking there. The tree became the spot to knacker drink. A couple of months the council tore that shit up, no more drinking there. This shall be my ode
His front yard was only eight by ten feet, but he took
Pride in his lawn so every blade was kept green all season
No pesticides, he trusted what the earth provided
Besides like every day the neighbour's dog came by to fertilize it
There was no bird bath to perch on and sing
No bush, no flowerbeds, no mighty oak or birch with a swing
That was 'til one year on the first day of spring
He got an envelope with nothing but his first name in ink upon it
He tore it open, wondering what it could be about
But found no letter in it, tapped it lightly and a seed fell out
He thought a minute, curious to what would grow
Then walked out to the shed to grab a spade and dug a hole
He put it right into the middle of the yard and gave it water
And a single drop of blood from his finger, like a pagan offer
The next morning he was looking for a sprout
And was astounded when he found it stood a foot out of the ground
Imagine!
A week went by, it raised an inch above his head
He double checked his measurements, then he stood and rubbed his neck confused
Neighbours watched and tried to figure what he fed it
Because in this short amount of time it was already set to bloom
The next day he saw some buds on the branches
Start to open so his eyes were looking bloodshot an anxious to see
Now try to picture the expression on his grill
When he starked them leaves emerging only twenty dollar bills
Ker-ching!
Microphone check check one two
Shouts to the family tree check check one two
Microphone check yo check one two
Shouts to the family tree mic check one two
Took in a huge (gasp), and held it in his (huff)
Then he whispered to himself, "I'm gonna need a bigger fence"
He figured that the bills were ripe, so he got-
His laundry baskets, filled it right to the top
And then he went and stashed the cash beneath his mattress thinking back
To pick the rest he had left seemed like it'd blessed him with a sizable crop
But half the block was gaining interest on his spot whether he liked it not
These kids were set to get a taste, there was no time on the clock to spend
He built his fence from iron bars with barbed wire
Lined the yard with land mines and guard dogs that barked fire
Then he climbed the eaves draw, with a rifle and a lawn chair
And sat up on his roof watching his neighbors through the cross-hair (Wink!)
And if he would have checked his answering machine
He's hear his boss had fired him because he'd been absent for a week
His main squeeze was on there too, with a message to deliver
Said, "we're through and thats the last time that you stand me up for dinner"
Click!
But the first batch he picked was premature and different greens
Serial numbers incomplete, the holograms were even blurred
For the rest of the crop, he knew he'd have to leave it longer
And this harvest could be huge the roots were growing even stronger
Small as his house was, he couldn't afford the bills
But now it looked like he'd be raking in at least a quarter mill'
Poured some milk, and tossed a couple burgers on his foreman grill
But stayed rooted at the window, eyes green from chlorophyll
Microphone check check one two
Shouts to the family tree check check one two
Microphone check yo check one two
Shouts to the family tree mic check one two
All of a sudden, twenties turned from green to yellow to red
Now with a fifty on each one of 'em, he hit the floor cold
Couldn't believe it but he'd seen it and he knew just what was coming
If these bills were turning brown then he would have a pile of hundreds
By tomorrow - and sure enough they did
Decided not to pick them though he'd wait until he saw the colours shift again
He'd never even seen a thousand dollar bill
And didn't know what colour to be looking for but kept his eyes peeled,
Heard a gust of wind rushing in and rustling the foliage
And now a single leaf was slowly drifting to the ground
He picked it up, it crumbled into dust
Waited too late in the cycle man he couldn't get enough
Now he's still sitting by that money tree I know it's too much
Somebody ought'a go and tell that fool they only bloom once
Now he's still sitting by that money tree I know it's too much
Somebody ought'a go and tell that fool they only bloom once
Now he's still sitting by that money tree I know it's too much
Somebody ought'a go and tell that fool they only bloom once
...
You gotta know just when to pick them 'cause they only bloom once...
RIP Alexander (Al Bender) Buchanan (July 19, 1980 - March 1, 2018)
One of my favourite MCs to come out of KOTD.
From your battles to your music, you will be sorely missed.
Thanks for typing the lyrics up for this. I always loved this song.
Thanks a lot man.
Thanks man. Bender was one of the best storytellers on the scene. Period.
Long Live BENDER 🕊 🕊 🕊
Thank you for sharing the lyrics brother. We speak about BENDER on quite a few of my podcast episodes. Most recently with JUNK from out West. But that's not what this is about. Honestly thank you the lyrics have such meaning behind them its an amazing track. Structure of the bars was beautiful . Peace my brother and BENDER FOREVER!!!!!
Serious storytelling lyricism here, well done Bender
THANKS FOR THE UPLOAD BENDER,,,ALWAYS EAGER TO HEAR SOMETHING NEW FROM YOU, *PEACE/RESPECT FROM SO. CALI
Rest in peace Bender! I always thought he was the most talented song writer to come out of that KOTD scene where I discovered his music.
Reminds me of swell on labor days album. Thats a good thing
Insanely creative! Dope shit Bender!
R.I.P. my brother .
Bender for years me and my mates used to drink at a tree near my estate then alot of people started drinking there. The tree became the spot to knacker drink. A couple of months the council tore that shit up, no more drinking there. This shall be my ode
Top Notch, Unbelivable word play
I was unsure at first but damn , this is brillant
new favorite song ever.
DOPE!!! lyrics and beat r nice respect
Amazing.
That is a slick song kid
rip bender...fuck what a writer
#FRESH
sick!! more more more!!
this song is about growing weed. a green trees buds have 20 dollar bills. im onto you bender
Bender's music is >>>>>
This is good.
Thx reubs 👊👊👊👊👊 dope
Bender put these joints on bandcamp!
Rip
illest story rapper yo give ricky dee a run for his money
Brilliant rhyme schemes, St. Peter the gate keeper...
@TheWrongEnemy theres a small percentage.
what sample is he using? is that a saxophone?
what album si this?
*aesop not swell. Autocorrectpwnt