Living This Life

[00:00.85] Lord, it's so hard, living this life
[00:06.39] A constant struggle each and everyday
[00:12.68] Some wonder why I'd rather die
[00:19.03] Than to continue living this way
[00:24.46] Uh, I don't wanna do this no mo'
[00:28.90] But dis the only thang that I know
[00:31.77] I keep a pistol in my back and a gauge on the flo'
[00:34.49] The laws and the jackers wanna kick in my do'
[00:38.02] I'm a D-boy, didn't graduate
[00:40.77] But I got Ph.D from Pimp State
[00:43.50] And I got a Master's Degree in movin' weight
[00:47.15] And my people dependin' on me but they gon' be straight
[00:50.74] Uh, I wanna go to service
[00:53.45] But I ain't been in so long, kinda make me feel nervous
[00:56.17] 'Cause they be lookin' at me funny
[00:59.87] Watchin' the plate when I tithe put in my money
[01:02.54] I don't wanna go back to that hell
[01:05.27] Rather be dead than doin' life in a jail cell
[01:07.97] Die young, oh well, I had a good life
[01:11.58] They rappin' 'bout it but I'm out here payin' the price
[01:14.33] Lord, it's so hard living this life
[01:19.73] A constant struggle each and everyday
[01:24.38] Some wonder why I'd rather die
[01:32.46] Than to continue living this way
[01:37.92] I wake up out of bed, right after the crack of dawn
[01:41.57] And I give myself a stretch up, a mornin' yawn
[01:45.12] And see, I'm a pawn in this neighborhood chess game
[01:47.86] Move one step at a time, long as the Lord bless me
[01:50.50] I know the rest aim high, I'm tryin' to aim it higher
[01:54.27] Watchin' the lames aspire to street success, mayne
[01:56.93] They tryin' to flame the fire but that's like wettin' water
[02:00.56] You either burnt or washed out, so get in order
[02:03.26] Everyday it's gettin' harder to fuck with the flow
[02:06.91] I'm tryin' to keep all of my motherfuckin' ducks in a row
[02:08.79] I gotta see a man 'bout a dog and sell him a cat
[02:12.33] If you don't know, then you don't know, dat's dat
[02:15.12] Shit, a dollar outta fifteen cents, I got a dime
[02:17.87] Tryin' to hustle up my way to a million, I gotta grind
[02:21.43] Walkin' the line like cash, I'm on my mash
[02:24.23] Two hundred yards behind in a hundred yard dash
[02:26.94] Lord, it's so hard, living this life
[02:32.34] A constant struggle each and everyday
[02:39.70] Some wonder why I'd rather die
[02:44.19] Than to continue living this way
[02:50.59] Lord, I'm sittin' here on bended knee, my hands locked, eyes shut
[02:55.06] Askin' You to watch over me, no matter what
[02:57.86] Even though I ain't too well behaved, I'm still a child of You
[03:01.43] And faith in my Holy Father is all that keep me smilin'
[03:04.14] Through the bad times and worse times, through it all
[03:06.94] When my head is hangin' low, You help me to stand tall
[03:09.62] The only way I'ma ball, the only way I'ma shine
[03:12.37] Is if You lookin' after me while I'm out here on the grind
[03:15.98] Uh, I know you bless the child that go get it
[03:18.60] I'm the product of the ghetto, the flame of the city
[03:21.44] So I talk the language of the ave'
[03:25.00] Forgive my dirty mouth, please, I'm whippin' slabs
[03:27.77] Fifties, quarters and the whole thangs
[03:32.36] Balance in my life on the fo' beam
[03:35.07] And I need codeine just to stay sane
[03:36.87] I'm steady prayin' to You but I don't know Your real name
[03:40.43] Knahmtalkinbout?
[03:43.10] But I'm under the impression that if your heart is in the right place
[03:48.63] Your prayers gon' get heard anyway
[03:50.40] So some say Jah Jah, some say Allah
[03:54.02] Some say Jesus, some say Yeshua Ben'ta, knahmalkinbout?
[04:04.93] Ay man, I just look like this, man, knahmtalkinbout?
[04:08.64] I ain't get this far bein' no square man
[04:14.04] You wanna hide some'n from black folks
[04:18.51] They say you can put it in a book, I don't believe that
[04:23.16] 'Cause I done read fo' libraries worth of books
[04:26.78] I got some knowledge y'all need to get up on, mayne
[04:30.36] But hold a pair of hearts, knahmtalkinbout?
[04:34.99] For they laws and power, knahmsayin? The art of war
[04:38.57] The secret societies of America, knahmtalkinbout?
[04:43.05] Everythang ain't what it look like, man
[04:48.58] And don't judge every book by its cover, ya dig? Hold up
[04:56.64]