| IIIIIIIII didn’t know, there’d be troubles along the way
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| Nobody told me nothin, nobody told me nothin, nothin
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| Well, well, ohh, ohhhh, ohhhhhh, oahh-ohhhh
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| Well, ay-heyyy, ay-hey, we-ell
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| Uh-huh, uh-huh-huh, uh-huh-huh, uh-huh-huh
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| I went through, 8 different schools in, 12 different years
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| That’s 30 different teachers, over ten thousand different peers
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| And I done fought in e’ryone, been suspended e’rytime
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| Besides a few a felony, done committed e’ry crime
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| But never braggin on, just want you to see me what I done done
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| I’m never proud of it, so I don’t have to go back there again
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| And uhh, I used to go like house to house (man)
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| Sleepin on couch to couch (you know)
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| Walk around stickin out my hands, lookin for a handout
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| Only thing I handed out was more bills
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| Only thing pulled me out was my will
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| God told me the sun don’t chill
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| Determined to make use of one of these skills
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| Either that or go beat the block
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| Ain’t no way you can beat the cops
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| Ain’t no way I can beat the clock
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| Just a matter of time shut down your shop
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| Ohh, you stay up day and nights, livin this way of life
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| I was Young and Restless
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| All My Children came and then I had a Guiding Light (hey)
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| No more of that sittin mayne (c'mon) sittin and waitin
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| And thinkin somebody comin to take me up off them streets
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| But now I know.
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| Nobody told me that the road would be easy, yeah
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| I don’t believe, I’ve made it this far
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| My whole life, man I’ve been workin so hard and I know
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| Nobody told me that the road would be easy (Whoaaaaaa, that the road)
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| I can’t believe, I’ve made it this far (Whoo, yeahhh)
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| My whole life, man I’ve been workin so hard and I know
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| I can tell you right now, I’m sayin
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| I could sit here and count on one hand
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| How many people seen me graduate
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| I know a few that did but a bunch that ain’t (hey)
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| Same folks showin up in swarms, waitin for me to go on
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| Wantin to see Ali perform, wasn’t so po' before
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| I became this household name
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| I was playin them Little League games
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| Nobody curred if I go 0-for-3
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| Nobody out hurr rootin for me but my Momma
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| Supported me in e’rything, «Why she get e’rything?»
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| Some people got the nerve to ask
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| Y’all can kiss my ass, and that’s my Momma
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| Got a sister that need my help (hey) and I gave peace all with wealth
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| Give anything that I have, just to see her in perfect health
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| Now we out hurr complainin, «I got work to do» (ohh)
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| How bad you think you got it, somebody else got it worse than you (hey)
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| I done had them down and ups and, don’t plan on comin back down (no)
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| Don’t plan on leavin hurr no time soon, but I got too comfortable now
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| Wouldn’t have no knowledge of wealth, without no knowledge of self
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| And I’ma keep walkin this road — my mind, body and soul
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| I know
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| I didn’t knowwwww
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| There’d be troubles along the way (I didn’t know there’d be troubles)
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| Nobody told me nothin (nobody told me nothin)
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| That would help me to ease my pain (to help ease my pain, yeah)
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| I’ve been walkin this roooooad, for forever and a day (forever and a day)
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| Now I’ve been searchin somethin (whoa-ohhh)
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| For someone to help me find my way (somebody help me, find my way)
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| And now I know
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| — fades out w/ ad libs |