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I Need a Dollar Lyrics

by Aloe Blacc

Lyricist: Aloe Blacc

20 views • Published on Sep 26, 2026

I Need a Dollar Lyrics

I need a dollar dollar, a dollar is what I need hey hey Well I need a dollar dollar, a dollar is what I need hey hey And I said I need dollar dollar, a dollar is what I need And if I share with you my story would you share your dollar with me Bad times are comin and I reap what I don't sow hey hey Well let me tell you somthin all that glitters ain't gold hey hey It's been a long old trouble long old troublesome road And i'm looking for somebody come and help me carry this load I need a dollar dollar, a dollar is what I need hey hey Well I need a dollar dollar, a dollar is what I need Well i don't know if I'm walking on solid ground Cause everything around me is falling down And all I want - is for someone - to help meee I had a job but the boss man let me go He said I'm sorry but I won't be needing your help no more I said please mister boss man I need this job more than you know But he gave me my last paycheck and he sent me on out the door I need a dollar dollar, a dollar is what I need hey hey I said I need a dollar dollar, a dollar is what I need hey hey And I need a dollar dollar, a dollar is what I need And if I share with you my story would you share your dollar with me Well i don't know if i'm walking on solid ground Cause everything around me is crumbling down And all I want is for someone to help meee What in the world am I gonna to do tomorrow is there someone whose dollar that i can borrow who can help me take away my sorrow maybe its inside the bottle maybe its inside the bottle i had some good old buddy his names is whiskey and wine hey hey and for my good old buddy i spent my last dime hey hey my wine is good to me it helps me pass the time and my good old buddy whiskey keeps me warmer than the sunshine Hey Hey your mama may have blessed the child whose got his own Hey Hey if god has plans for me i hope it aint - written in stone Hey Hey because i've been working working myself down to the bone and i swear on grandpas grave i'll be paid when i come home Hey Hey Well I need a dollar dollar, a dollar is what I need hey hey I need a dollar dollar, a dollar is what I need hey hey Well I need a dollar dollar, a dollar is what I need hey hey And if I share with you my story will you share your dollar with me come on share your dollar with me go ahead share your dollar with me come on share your dollar give me your dollar share your dollar with me come on share your dollar with me

Meaning of I Need a Dollar

“I Need a Dollar” by Aloe Blacc is a stark and deeply affecting portrayal of economic hardship and the quiet desperation it breeds, wrapped in a deceptively simple, almost childlike plea. The core theme revolves around vulnerability, begging, and the erosion of hope in the face of systemic failure – specifically, unemployment and poverty. The narrative unfolds as a raw, first-person account of a man stripped bare by circumstance; he’s lost his job, been dismissed with callous indifference, and now finds himself reduced to asking for a single dollar. The repetition of “I need a dollar” isn't just a demand but an embodiment of the cyclical nature of poverty – a constant, nagging need that feels insurmountable. Blacc masterfully utilizes imagery like "everything around me is falling down" and “walking on solid ground,” amplifying the feeling of instability and loss of control. Beyond the immediate story of the man’s struggle, the song carries a broader commentary on societal indifference; the line “would you share your dollar with me” directly challenges listeners to confront their own privilege and consider the plight of those less fortunate. The inclusion of the whiskey and wine – "good old buddies" bought with his last money – reveals a coping mechanism, a temporary solace in self-medication rather than seeking genuine help. The final verses, referencing “written in stone” and a promise made to his grandfather’s grave, inject a poignant sense of regret and a desperate yearning for redemption. Blacc's message is ultimately one of empathy and a sobering reminder that even the smallest request can expose profound human suffering, forcing us to confront uncomfortable truths about economic inequality and the fragility of the American Dream.

Tags:

aloe blaccpovertyhopefulsouldollar song

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