1... 2...
[Verse 1:]
She was only 15 and loved bad RNB
She had to have vision cause she saw the star in me
Encouraged me to write about the drama in my life
To most I seemed strange like something wasn't right
I used to fall a victim to the lunchroom comedians
Something like an outcast, started smoking weed and then...
I sort of fell in to my own
Kind of felt at home when behind a microphone
But on the busride home, that didn't mean a thing
Harassed by thugs, on the corners they would hang
I got banged on, I got beat down
Carrying the golf club, walking up the street now
They respect me, they call me crazy
At least I'm not getting punk'd out on the Daily
And when I look back, I wouldn't change a thing you know
Why d'you think I found this trip, I'm speakin to yo'all
[Chorus:]
I'll take everything...
(your hopes and your dreams and your hate and your lies)
Umm... ummm... ummm... in this life... I'll join everyone...
(from the old and the wise to the young as they fly... fly... fly... fly...)
When I die...
[Verse 2:]
God is love, then Hatin' is Satan
This anti-patience has got me sittin here waitin
For the day when it's ok to love
When black men won't pretend they're thugs
When teachers and doctors are treated like celebrities
You could get a job even if you got a felony
Check out my melody, let's live in harmony
We're in this together, no man has a conomy
No man is an island, immune to the violence
This rap race is no place to raise a child in
What's wrong with smiling? What's wrong with peace?
What's wrong is squashing people before they label you deceased?
Swallow your pride before you choke on your issues
I know you got family and folks that'll miss you
So don't misuse this gift you've been given
This life's but a dream, you're blessed to be livin
[Chorus:]
I'll take everything...
(your hopes and your dreams and your hate and your lies... lies... lies... lies)
Umm... ummm... ummm... in this life... I'll join everything...
(from the old and the wise to the young as they fly... as they fly... fly... fly...)
When I die...
[Reprise:]
Basically man, I'm just a dude that tries to do right.
You know, I try to make my... my tomorrows better than my yesterdays.
Without... wothout hurting anyone else in the process.
Cus if you leave the world a better place than it was when you got here
Then we all win... we all win!
[Verse 3:]
That is birth and is death but the s***e in between
Is where the journey takes place and you give it all meaning
It's waitin on us all. There's no need to pretend
No freedom in the feeling where you're fearin the end
All good things come to it. Walk, don't run to it
Times you want to end it all yourself - don't do it.
Be original, be different
Be the one that stands up and shuts this system!
[Chorus:]
I'll take everything...
(your hopes and your dreams and your hate and your lies... lies... lies... lies)
Umm... ummm... ummm... in this life...
I'll join everyone...
(from the old and the wise to the young as they fly... as they fly... fly... fly...)
When I die...
I'll take everything...
Umm... ummm... ummm... in this life...
I'll join everything...
Cause... old... men... die...
[Verse 1:]
She was only 15 and loved bad RNB
She had to have vision cause she saw the star in me
Encouraged me to write about the drama in my life
To most I seemed strange like something wasn't right
I used to fall a victim to the lunchroom comedians
Something like an outcast, started smoking weed and then...
I sort of fell in to my own
Kind of felt at home when behind a microphone
But on the busride home, that didn't mean a thing
Harassed by thugs, on the corners they would hang
I got banged on, I got beat down
Carrying the golf club, walking up the street now
They respect me, they call me crazy
At least I'm not getting punk'd out on the Daily
And when I look back, I wouldn't change a thing you know
Why d'you think I found this trip, I'm speakin to yo'all
[Chorus:]
I'll take everything...
(your hopes and your dreams and your hate and your lies)
Umm... ummm... ummm... in this life... I'll join everyone...
(from the old and the wise to the young as they fly... fly... fly... fly...)
When I die...
[Verse 2:]
God is love, then Hatin' is Satan
This anti-patience has got me sittin here waitin
For the day when it's ok to love
When black men won't pretend they're thugs
When teachers and doctors are treated like celebrities
You could get a job even if you got a felony
Check out my melody, let's live in harmony
We're in this together, no man has a conomy
No man is an island, immune to the violence
This rap race is no place to raise a child in
What's wrong with smiling? What's wrong with peace?
What's wrong is squashing people before they label you deceased?
Swallow your pride before you choke on your issues
I know you got family and folks that'll miss you
So don't misuse this gift you've been given
This life's but a dream, you're blessed to be livin
[Chorus:]
I'll take everything...
(your hopes and your dreams and your hate and your lies... lies... lies... lies)
Umm... ummm... ummm... in this life... I'll join everything...
(from the old and the wise to the young as they fly... as they fly... fly... fly...)
When I die...
[Reprise:]
Basically man, I'm just a dude that tries to do right.
You know, I try to make my... my tomorrows better than my yesterdays.
Without... wothout hurting anyone else in the process.
Cus if you leave the world a better place than it was when you got here
Then we all win... we all win!
[Verse 3:]
That is birth and is death but the s***e in between
Is where the journey takes place and you give it all meaning
It's waitin on us all. There's no need to pretend
No freedom in the feeling where you're fearin the end
All good things come to it. Walk, don't run to it
Times you want to end it all yourself - don't do it.
Be original, be different
Be the one that stands up and shuts this system!
[Chorus:]
I'll take everything...
(your hopes and your dreams and your hate and your lies... lies... lies... lies)
Umm... ummm... ummm... in this life...
I'll join everyone...
(from the old and the wise to the young as they fly... as they fly... fly... fly...)
When I die...
I'll take everything...
Umm... ummm... ummm... in this life...
I'll join everything...
Cause... old... men... die...