Royal Ruckus > Summer of the Cicadas > Track 12
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Intro
I’m buying Dave Ramsey books on credit. Mike has a few observations about that.
I open “Moment of Zen” trying to get my life together. Before the verse is over, I’ve changed the subject to duck-fat fries.
Mike and I trade lines through most of the song. Neither of us gets far into a claim about himself before the other interrupts. There are old jokes in here, and some friends might recognize themselves. It’s a comic detour as the first disc’s relationship unravels.
The chorus gives Mike an answer whenever I start up again: “You make ridiculous claims, at least last time that I checked.”
Videos
Behind the Cicada Ruckus (commentary)
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Lyrics
Verse 1:
Chunjay:
I’ve got something to say so I’m just gonna say it
Been cutting back exchanges with this girl this time I mean it
She quits then she’s in then she’s in a tail spin
And I’m done spinning out I’m sick of all the wailing
Failing forward into success, my eyes are on the prize
Onward and upward til Christ says arise
And the whole world gets reprise, he wipes all the cries
Duck fat fries got me changin subject an the rhyme
In my mid-thirties and I just reached my prime
When I make a whole turkey always prep it with a brine
Flatline:
Word up to grandma for working hard in the kitchen
Making things nice while kids were tumblin’ and bitchin’
Chunjay:
Listen little chump, I don’t bother with no breakfast
Always playing with that fasting and seeking new perspectives
Like Samson in this piece
Flatline:
And I be slamming keys!
Chunjay:
Orthodox enough that you’d think that I’m from Greece
Chorus:
Chunjay:
I got something to say but its not what you’d expect
Flatline:
You make ridiculous claims, at least last time that I checked
Chunjay:
Not Kenny Lamar, not Jay-Z or Em
Both:
Royal Ruckus coming back atcha, your moment of Zen
Chunjay:
I got something to say but its not what you’d expect
Flatline:
You make ridiculous claims, at least last time that I checked
Chunjay:
I’m not Kanye West, not Dre or Rakim
Both:
Royal Ruckus coming back atcha, your moment of Zen
Verse 2:
Chunjay:
I had a pet squirrel for a second I’m not kidding
Shared it with my best girl but ended up quitting
Released ’em both into the wild with well wishes and a smile
Priest said work on me awhile but she makes me such a Grecophile
Grew a beard for a year cause Mike and I were bored
Flatline:
Girls both praised and sneered and a few had hoped to score
Chunjay:
Remember Mandy Moore?
Flatline:
I hear she’s free again
We could open for her tour but someone’d have to phone it in
Chunjay:
Bless her with a beer, restart my rap career
And make a chick flick starring Mr. Belvedere
Flatline:
Charles in Charge at 7:30, Full House at 8 o’clock
Chunjay:
I know it’s hard to swallow but I’m still Jimmy from the block
Used to have a little, now I save once in a while
Dudes asking how can you afford your rock n roll lifestyle?
Mostly poor budgeting, Dave Ramsey books on credit
Flatline:
Should probably spend more time reading money tips on Reddit
Verse 3:
Chunjay:
Yo microphone check one two…
Flatline:
What is this? Piece of the nice guy rapper pie stimulus?
Chunjay:
Knowdaverbs had the syllabus, homie was my friend
Cruisin’ round in his jalopy needed a heater and a tint
Flatline:
I miss KJ-5 and T-Bone who would pretend
To remember our names, but it didn’t offend
Chunjay:
Penned all the raps but never lived to up the dream
Don’t really give a crap
Flatline:
Joke’s on you for listening!
Chunjay:
East Bakersfield, [G-Rhymez!] land of the cap peel
Raised in a six bed house and scared of Oildale
My mom once lived in Compton so that makes me half street
Flatline:
You coulda been Ice Cube but instead you grew up sweet
Chunjay:
My liver’s paying dearly for life’s magic activities
I quit eating sugar so I never get a cavity
Flatline:
On tour with Cure and Billy Idol tribute bands
Chunjay:
Pigeon John wont text me back, he’s rapping in Thailand
Credits
Music: Flatline
Lyrics and Vocals: Chunjay and Flatline
Narrator: Heath McClure
Album-wide credits
Additional Credits
Production: Flatline, Chunjay
Mixing, Engineering, Co-Production, Mastering, Additional Scratches, Everything but the Kitchen Sink: DJ Sean P at TWLVS in Fort Worth, Texas
Vocal Production/Consultation: Krum
Pre-Mixing: Flatline, Chunjay, Krum, Shedlyn/Chris Felix, Annex, Grizzly Beatz, David Mathewes
Background Vocals: Flatline, DJ Sean P, Chunjay, and Friends
Executive Producer: Chunjay
Lyrics and music copyright 2017 Neopolis Media in partnership with Invisible Library Records. All rights reserved. M. Walker & J. Bennett Artist rights (BMI).
Guest/co-writer FYI: Act I shared credit: Music — Flatline; Lyrics and Vocals — Chunjay and Flatline; Narrator — Heath McClure. These source credits are attribution information, not a lyric-scope blocker; they do not specify legal ownership shares.
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