[Verse 1]
Sarah's got a thousand dollars burning in her hand
Question echoes through the boardroom, across the land
Take the cash today or wait three years for more
Time's invisible tax collector knocks upon the door
Every moment money sleeps, opportunity bleeds away
Inflation whispers softly, "What you own will decay"
[Chorus]
Present value, future value, discount rates align
P-V equals F-V over one plus i to n
Money travels through the calendar, shrinking as it goes
Time erodes tomorrow's treasure, everybody knows
Calculate the real worth hiding in projected streams
Numbers never lie about financial dreams
[Verse 2]
Investment banker Jenny stares at spreadsheet rows
Capital budgeting decisions, which project she'll propose
Project Alpha promises two million in year five
Project Beta delivers steady cash to keep alive
Discount factor magic turns those future sums to now
Net present value calculation shows her exactly how
[Chorus]
Present value, future value, discount rates align
P-V equals F-V over one plus i to n
Money travels through the calendar, shrinking as it goes
Time erodes tomorrow's treasure, everybody knows
Calculate the real worth hiding in projected streams
Numbers never lie about financial dreams
[Bridge]
Compound interest builds empires grain by grain
Simple interest counts linear, compound breaks the chain
Risk adjustment bumps the rate when uncertainty grows
Safe investments earn less, dangerous ventures expose
Annuities distribute evenly across the years
Perpetuities flow forever, conquering investor fears
[Verse 3]
Corporate treasurer Marcus weighs the bond's appeal
Coupon payments quarterly, when will profits feel real
Discount each installment back to present day
Terminal value calculated, debt or equity way
Internal rate of return reveals the project's spine
Hurdle rates separate the weak from the divine
[Chorus]
Present value, future value, discount rates align
P-V equals F-V over one plus i to n
Money travels through the calendar, shrinking as it goes
Time erodes tomorrow's treasure, everybody knows
Calculate the real worth hiding in projected streams
Numbers never lie about financial dreams
[Outro]
Time's the silent partner in every deal you make
Calculate its price before the next financial stake