I Need a Dollar – English Lyrics

• By: Aloe Blacc
• Album: Good Things

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the story behind Aloe Blacc's soul-stirring hit, "I Need a Dollar," a song that became an anthem for the recession. Explore its themes of economic hardship and the search for community support, and learn how this track propelled Blacc to international fame, offering a poignant commentary on society and resilience.

[English]

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 coming and I reap what I don't sow

(Hey hey)

Well let me tell you something 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 that's what I need

(Hey hey)

Well I need a dollar dollar, a dollar that's 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 me

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

Well I need a dollar dollar, a dollar that's what I need

(Hey hey)

Said I need a dollar dollar, a dollar that's what I need

(Hey hey)

And I need a dollar dollar, a dollar that's 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 me

What in the world am I gonna do tomorrow?

Is there someone with a dollar that I can borrow?

Who can help me take away my sorrow?

Maybe it's inside the bottle

Maybe it's inside the bottle

I had some good old buddies names of 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 sunshine

(Hey Hey)

Your mom of mayhem, bless the child that's got his own

(Hey Hey)

If God has plans for me, I hope it ain't written in stone

(Hey Hey)

Because I've been working, working myself down to the bone

And I swear on grandpa's grave I'll be paid when I come home

(Hey Hey)

Well I need a dollar dollar, a dollar that's what I need

(Hey hey)

Said need a dollar dollar, a dollar that's what I need

(Hey hey)

Well 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

Come on share your dollar with me

Go head 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

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dollar /ˈdɒl.ər/ B1	noun - a unit of currency
need /niːd/ A1	verb - to require
help /hɛlp/ A1	verb - to assist
share /ʃeər/ A2	verb - to give a portion to others
job /dʒɒb/ A1	noun - a paid position of employment
boss /bɒs/ A2	noun - person in charge of workers
paycheck /ˈpeɪˌtʃek/ B2	noun - a salary payment
trouble /ˈtrʌb.əl/ A2	noun - difficulty or problems
sorrow /ˈsɒr.oʊ/ B2	noun - deep sadness
bottle /ˈbɒt.əl/ A1	noun - container for liquids
whiskey /ˈwɪs.ki/ B2	noun - distilled alcoholic beverage
wine /waɪn/ A2	noun - fermented grape beverage
sunshine /ˈsʌn.ʃaɪn/ B1	noun - bright light from the sun
mayhem /ˈmeɪ.hɛm/ C1	noun - violent disorder
gold /ɡoʊld/ A2	noun - precious yellow metal
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A1	noun - the solid surface of the Earth
solid /ˈsɒl.ɪd/ B1	adjective - firm and stable
borrow /ˈbɒr.oʊ/ B1	verb - to take and use something belonging to another with the intention to return it

Key Grammar Structures

• I need a dollar, dollar a dollar is what I need

  ➔ Nominal relative clause

  ➔ The clause "what I need" functions as a noun phrase and acts as the complement of "is".

• And if I share with you my story would you share your dollar with me

  ➔ First conditional (polite request) with inversion

  ➔ The clause "if I share with you my story" is a normal conditional, and the question "would you share your dollar with me" uses inversion to make a polite request.

• Bad times are coming and I reap what I don't sow

  ➔ Present progressive (are coming)

  ➔ "are coming" shows an action that is happening around the present moment.

• It's been a long old trouble long old troublesome road

  ➔ Present perfect (has been)

  ➔ "has been" expresses a state that started in the past and continues up to now.

• I don't know if I'm walking on solid ground

  ➔ Embedded yes‑no question with "if"

  ➔ "if I'm walking" is an embedded yes‑no question functioning as the object of "know".

• I had a job but the boss man let me go

  ➔ Causative verb "let" + bare infinitive

  ➔ "let" is a causative verb that is followed directly by the bare infinitive "go".

• He gave me my last paycheck and he sent me out the door

  ➔ Phrasal verb "sent out"

  ➔ "sent ... out" combines the verb "send" with the particle "out" to mean "to cause someone to leave".

• If God has plans for me, I hope it ain't written in stone

  ➔ First conditional + passive voice ("ain't written")

  ➔ "If God has plans for me" is a real condition, and "it ain't written" uses the passive form to describe a state of being recorded.

• I've been working, working myself down to the bone

  ➔ Present perfect continuous

  ➔ "I've been working" indicates an action that started in the past and has continued up to the present, often with emphasis on duration.