The Streets

Dear God, how can I explain myself?

Oh God, bless me indeed when I'm so confused

Enlarge my territory

Place Your love and protection over me at all times

Help me

Keep me away from evil, somebody answer me

Allow me not to cause pain

Police in the background, screamin', "Put the thing down"

That's how hard I was trying to put my thing down

Sirens 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

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

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

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

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

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

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 momma 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, oh

No ground to place my feet

(My feet)

I feel the fire under me

(Hey)

A way out is all I need

(All I need)

Somebody answer me

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