Intro
Otis kept a mirror cracked in three since oh-nine
Said every crack was a customer who couldn't pay in time
Wiped the glass clean, kept the ledger in his head
Around here scars ain't scars, they collateral instead
Verse 1
Otis chalked your story on the glass instead of cash
Line for every stitch, a tally for every gash
I walked in bleeding, eleven, elbow torn on brick
Kept my brother's bike from rolling into traffic quick
Otis wiped it clean, said that one's on the house
Wrote my initials next to names he wouldn't call out
Told me scars don't fade here, they just change their rate
Later that same mark bought me credit at the gate
Corner boys respect what your skin already spent
Wear the proof and nobody question where you went
But currency got interest, and it never sleeps
Every wound you cash out, some part of you it keeps
I still feel that elbow ache when weather turns to rain
Paid it forward once, still collecting on the pain
Otis said the body is the only bank that's real
No teller, no receipt, just what your scars reveal
Chorus
Scar tissue currency, that's the coin round here
Spend a wound to buy a name, spend a name to buy a year
No bank hold this collateral, no teller count it clean
Scar tissue currency, the only cash we've seen
Verse 2
Nineteen now, Silas owed a debt he couldn't cover
Otis wasn't there to broker, this the street, no other
Stepped between two numbers, took a blade across my rib
Silas walked home clean that night, I walked home with the bid
Traded my whole side for his safety, called it fair
Momma saw the bandage, didn't ask, just combed my hair
Word got round the block, my rate went up again
Dudes who never spoke to me start nodding like we're kin
Funny how a scar buys more than working two jobs could
Funny how the ledger only reads in blood, not good
Silas got clean, moved his family cross the river line
Sent a card that said he's sorry, no return address behind
Don't need the sorry, need to know it balanced out
Some nights I still count stitches like they settle any doubt
Scar tissue holds its value till you try to cash it in
Then you learn the market's rigged, you were paying for a sin
Chorus
Scar tissue currency, that's the coin round here
Spend a wound to buy a name, spend a name to buy a year
No bank hold this collateral, no teller count it clean
Scar tissue currency, the only cash we've seen
Bridge
Got a nephew now who thinks a scar's the only proof
Showed him mine like medals, told him, kid, that ain't the truth
Sat him down, said curr
