Above The Bodega (Local Business)

(Album: A Productive Cough - 2018)

I can keep a secret from my mama, I can keep a secret from my pa
I keep myself out of trouble, stay one step ahead of the law
And I can keep it from my neighbors – it ain't like they even care
But I can't keep a secret from the guy at the store downstairs

It's the patronage of strangers that's keeping me from being broke
But when they hand over the paycheck to me, they have to wonder where it goes
Because I never seem to save it – I sure ain't wasting it on clothes, nor soap
It's a mystery to you but there's a guy at the store that knows

Because by eleven in the morning, I'll find him selling smokes
Laughing in another language but we all know a joke's a joke
Then by seven in the evening, I'm darkening the door
Lord, it's so hard trying to keep a secret in that god damn store

He's there to see me buying cigarettes – he's there to see me buying beer
He's never seen me on the internet and five o'clock is nowhere near
But every day can be the weekend if you can walk a couple floors, take that three story tour
And make sure yr talking money when yr rocking with the boss at the store
I'm rocking with the boss

I can't keep a secret from the guy at the store
I can't keep a secret, I couldn't lie anymore
I can't keep a secret from the guy at the store
Why try like before?

Because you can lie with yr expression or lie with the things you say
But you can't lie with yr dollars, nah, babe – yr dollars, they give you away
And the faces on the paper, the faces from the paper glare
That's why I can't keep a secret from the guy at the store downstairs

The money in the pocket, there's a fire burning there
That's why I can't keep a secret from the guy at the store downstairs
It's glaringly apparent why I can't keep a secret from the guy at the store downstairs
So why should I attempt it when I can't keep a secret from the guy at the store downstairs?