englishR&B, Pop
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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