[Verse 1] Company's counting every dollar earned this year Projects lined up like hungry birds appearing First they feed the profitable ventures waiting Retained earnings disappearing, calculating Only when the cupboard's bare of good investments Do the shareholders receive their dividend payments [Chorus] Residual policy, pay what's left behind Fund the future first, dividends can wait in line Profits to projects, then shareholders get paid R-E-S-I-D-U-A-L, that's how the game is played [Verse 2] CFO examines every opportunity Positive net present value gets priority Machine upgrades and expansion plans come calling Research budgets and new markets, cash is falling Into ventures that will multiply tomorrow Shareholders must wait, no need to borrow [Chorus] Residual policy, pay what's left behind Fund the future first, dividends can wait in line Profits to projects, then shareholders get paid R-E-S-I-D-U-A-L, that's how the game is played [Bridge] When the treasure chest runs empty of good bets That's when dividend checks finally get set Leftover cash becomes the shareholder's prize Growth investments always claim the first slice [Verse 3] Some years dividends are zero, funds deployed Other years the excess makes investors overjoyed Fluctuating payments based on opportunities Company growth determines dividend quantities [Chorus] Residual policy, pay what's left behind Fund the future first, dividends can wait in line Profits to projects, then shareholders get paid R-E-S-I-D-U-A-L, that's how the game is played [Outro] What remains after investing goes to you Residual dividend policy, tried and true
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