[Poppa Wu] I'm a manchild born in the promised land Captain of my destiny, guidin my faith through the turbulence of life See, in order to be who you are, you've got to know who you are In order to get to where you want to go, You've got to know from where you came Say, it was Malcolm X who said, \"A man who doesn't have nothin to stand up for Will fall for any god damn thing!\"
[Shyheim] I walk with a gat...
Damn, my face drop tears, it's like nobody cares I swear, life ain't fair, sometimes I wanna disappear Only Blahzay Blah' got mad gray hairs, I'm a young old man What part of Shit Iz Real don't you understand? Twin got murdered, caught one to the temple *gunshot* You ain't been what I been through, Can It Be All So Simple? I got bad nerves, it's absurb, I'm disturbed So, I suggest you watch the words that you blurb Out your mouth, or it'll be a shoot out I leave you stretched out, I'm thugged, inside and out And it ain't by choice I'm screamin out loud for love (AHHHH!), do anybody hear my voice? Pardon the noise, I'm just a black ghetto boy Went through the rain and pain, where's the sunshine and joy? I can't seem to find it, trapped in the black cloud Watchin my life go down, to hide the suffer when I smile
[Chorus: Tekitha] Running these streets can be so... trying these trying times... Manchild in the promised land, who of you will understand? Running these streets can be so... trying these trying times... Manchild in the promised land, hey-ay...
[Shyheim] My aunt died from AIDS, I watched here deteriate She told me fuckin wit drugs, was her biggest mistake Put my moms on to it, stickin needles in her veins Bein sons of addicts, yo, me and Cane the same We packed bags at BathMart, we both humped Tamika We used to go to the pool, just to steal kid's sneakers Rocked cut-off beepers, wore old clothes for Easter Shit was so real, we had to split a slice of pizza I was born at six months, damn, premature My moms birthed a thug like, Afeni Shakur I'm surprised I ain't crazy, from the bug shit I saw I caught my mother buyin crack on the first floor I never thought I'd be in a cell, smokin the NewPort With all sorts of thoughts, runnin through my mind Know I ain't leavin, caught, D.A. took it, jail time I glanced at my mom's eyes, she lookin like she wanna cry
[Chorus 2x]
[Shyheim] They say I'm an accident waitin to happen, G Miss Sand from the first floor said she gon' pray for me She had a bad dream, that they, murdered me I said, \"Miss, truthfully, I don't believe in dreams\" Hope is miles away, from where I stay Who knows the way? Pssshhh... should I pay For the directions? My whole family's in correction Fake friends half-steppin, I'm stressin, and some question Can I trust you? Uh-huh, then I love you Yea, if not, straight up and down, fuck you Bottomline, real people do real things Play your position... (running these streets can be so...)
[Chorus to fade]
[Poppa Wu in background of chorus] You see, it's like this You've got to plan your work and work your plan Cuz seein who fails the plan, plans the fail Execute your strategy and seize your goal Cuz see, persistance overcomes resistance Peace