I watched the sky for omens
Hmm.
What a false prayer
Thinking we control men
Especially the con man
Come on, man
Thinking I could change you
Into someone to deserve me
If only I was patient
My faith might be rewarded
But he's the con man
He ain't God man00
Not kind, patient, nor forgiving
On his best days he’s the con man
On his worst he’s just some nigga
Go, figure.
That's his speciality
Card trick disappearing acts
Without apology
Nicknames his lovers Grace, Ace, Peaches, Freedom
All respectively
Then in his con man voice
You say "Girl stop caging me!"
Ain't that how it be?
How unforgiving love can be
By the time that he's reached safety
You done fallen ten feet deep
You should've known
When con man plays
That con man never plays for keeps
And yet I know—
it's in vain
Yet, I still keep fighting fate
Hoping one day he meets sacrifice
And return what he takes
Or one day I get good at cards
And beat him at the game
But win or lose the game
The game it always hurts the same
When you're the con man
My mother calls me prideful
Says to name you a mistake
Take my losses,
Count my blessings,
Dry my tears
and walk away.
But mama it ain't that easyyy.
What am I supposed to say?
I made my bed for fools to lay in—
Strung the guitar of the music man
And got mad he started playing,
Fucked an alley cat
And got mad that he went straying
Lied down with a dog
Then got pissed he wasn't bathing
Kissed a whore good night
And got sad when she asked for payment
Wrote a sonnet to a poet
Yet he replied in laymen’s
Worshipped in the streets of pimps
Still hurt when they made me kiss the pavement
Let thieves in at night,
Then at breakfast asked them if they're staying
Even had the nerve to ask if they want eggs or bacon
So of course!
When con man came to con
I gave him got bread and bed to lay in.
See what I'm sayin?
It's a cycle…
And it's dangerous…
making love to strangers
Soaking in hot water,
Just to cure this cold anger
Mama, it ain't that easy.
To make amends with the past
Cleanse myself in holy water
As if I ain't stained glass
To say that what's done is done is dead
Admit that I was dreaming
To call a bluff a bluff
And just say it had no meaning
Claim the love was in my head
admit that he was scheming
To say it was all.
just.
a con,
man?
Come on, man.
No no no no way!
If I don't get my cut!
Somebody's getting cut!
Somebody’s got to pay!
Cause the con man
Ain't the cash man
He won't pay for his mistakes
You won't say that you are sorry,
Or admit that you're mistaken,
You conned me out my shit,
Don't make it yours,
Just makes it taken.
And maybe I'm the token
And maybe I'm the prey
Maybe life for you was a dollar short
Forever a day late
Maybe someone told you they'd be coming back
And foolishly you stayed
So you became the con man
Cause you thought, “There's no other way
Then to fool this foolish world,
And play fore you get played”
And “It’s best to have love and lost”
Well that’s some easy shit to say.
And yes, you're just the con man
But man,
I loved you anyway.