Dear God.. how can I explain myself?
[J] Oh God bless me indeed
When I`m so confused
[J] Enlarge my territory
[J] Place your love and protection over me at all times
Help me!
[J] Keep me away from evil
Somebody answer me! [echoes]
[J] Allow me not to cause pain
[Jay-Z]
Police in the background, screamin put the thing down
That`s how hard I was trying to put my thing down
Si-rens ringin out, old ladies screamin out
All this attention for me and I`m barely sixteen now
.. it`s feelin like a dream now
Handcuffed, roughed up, I`m tossed in the bing now
I`m lyin next to fiends now, that`s the end of the story
Let me bring y`all niggaz back to the very first scene now
December 4th, a child is born
Before I knew it, had my pops trousers on
That`s how we do it when the man of the house is gone
You either, stand or fall, I chose to stand
The hawk outside, so I blow my hand
It`s a cold cold world but I overstand
Tryin to stay focused but I feel hopeless damn
Can`t cope with bein broke, I`m a man - c`mon
[Chorus: R. Kelly]
Son don`t let these streets, get the best of you
I will be right by your side, when you goin through
Son just don`t let it (just don`t let it)
Just don`t let it (just don`t let it)
Just don`t let it (just don`t let it)
.. get the best of you
[R. Kelly]
Late one night I was, rollin the streets
Just, thinkin about what`s goin on with me and
trapped in this thug life, tryin to break free but
this thug life just keeps callin me
I`m livin life way too dangerously
I`m drownin in my misery
Looked in the mirror, there`s my enemy
Cause poppa never was a part of me
Take one step at a time, mama said
Sweet memories still remain in my head
All of my life been lied to, misled
Voices be like, Don`t you wish you was dead?
No ground to place my feet
I feel the fire under me
A way out is all I need
Somebody, answer me!
[Chorus + ad libs]
[Jay-Z]
Now the only thing left is more spirit to roam free
.. cause ain`t no goin home for me
It`s a cold cold world but I blew my hand
A true first cause I knew that man
I knew what he would do if I didn`t draw first
And I couldn`t stand the thought of my momma steppin foot inside a church
All I try to do is try to get up out the dirt
Guess he`s tryin to do the same, told me get up out his turf
I wanted to talk to him, but that shit`d never work
We was cut from the same cloth and what was under his shirt was his
momma`s rent, his young brother`s clothes
My nephew`s food, and with that I suppose
.. and with that I froze
Now my life is frozen in time behind these iron folds
And this story is told, for young soldiers
who never choose the life we chose
[Chorus + (ad libs)]
[R. Kelly]
Tears in my eyes as I look up, I`m tryin to
hold back my pride but reality is screamin
Gotta get a job cause mo-mma also screamin
Streets are just like drugs, and it`s like I`m out here fiendin
Forget all the hits in the industry, cause
ain`t no exceptions in this game for me, look
Neither God or my enemies, I
choose God cause he understands, this
young man with a thuggish heart
Whole world in his hands but still torn apart
Like I`m so close, but it`s still so far
Nightmares of me in a swervin car, ohhh
No ground to place my feet (my feet)
I feel the fire under me (heyyy)
A way out is all I need (all I need)
Somebody, answer me!
[Chorus + ad libs]
