(Verse 1)
 Yo I once knew a man he started off a boy His whole damn life he never really been employed
 He was only 19 had a chance to go to college try out his luck to see if he could gain knowledge
 Think about your life or whatever you call it Now he's just a cluck dead broke alcoholic
 Used to keep a picture of his girl in his wallet Think about your life or whatever you would call it
 He walk home late cuz the city don't sleep He was only 19 but the river runs deep
 Wrote raps in his head so he didn't really speak about the crushed up pills that he took in one week
 One week turned to 2 2 weeks turned to 4 now long term addiction knocking at his door
 Starting losing weight coming late looking drunk and His family and friends said he was up to something
 Got to the point where he couldn't even function Calling up his dealer begging give me something
 I just got evicted I ain't got nothing the dealer was a prick his reply was reluctant
 I can get you high off the shit no body fuck with even all the fiends know better than to touch it
 He was 19 begging please give me something said to the kid I don't know if you can trust it
 But I got a lot so push it to the public watch out for the cops and rats on some thug shit
 Here's for your protection lending you this pistol pretending it was pure but he knew that it was crystal
 Looked like shards of glass and I hope this ain't a issue Plus if you snitch well your mother gonna miss you
 Now he's lost his path school and direction kicked out his pad after land lord inspection
 All he ever had was his rhymes and a dream now he's living on the streets at the age of 19
 Feel the meth in his lungs and the son starts to tweak never saw 21 yall the river runs deep
 (Verse 2)
 Yo I once knew a man he started off a boy His whole damn life he never really been employed
 Until he turned 19 got a job at the college Working on the radio where he could spread knowledge
 He thought about his life and how he wanted to recall it Still he barley ever had a dollar in his wallet
 He quit smoking weed figured that he needed time so that he could make a difference in other peoples' lives
 Stared saving money cleared out his mind No longer drinking just thinking about his rhymes
 He walk home late cuz the city don't sleep He was only 19 but the river runs deep
 He walk home late cuz the city don't sleep He was only 19 but the river runs deep
 Wrote raps in his head so he didn't really speak to his homies about the books he read in one week
 One week turned to two, two weeks turned to four plus on the side labels knocking at his door
 Started gaining fame he be gone away for months and family and friends said isn't he something
 Worked at the food back a block from the Ave where this guy smoked meth and kept rocks from a bag
 Told the kid he was grateful that he was helping out cuz he knew first hand he could have gone another route
 The river runs deep please kid hold on the people that we meet the only thing to keep us strong
 He could have been selfish could have lost it all instead he graduated early no adderall
 Called up his producer the one that he trusted said to the homie yo please give me something
 This guy was a dick his replay was reluctant now he gotta find some new beats he could fuck with
 I could make you rich if you switch to this club shit he was 19 begging please give me something
 Gave the kid gimmicks said push it to the public pretended it was pure but he knew it was corrupted
 You have to go solo we hope this ain't a issue, family and friends leave behind they won't miss you
 This guy was a douchbag he hung up the call started self promoting thinking really fuck them all
 Recording every day then he posted on his blog freestyle clear spitting through the fog
 Best decision that he made quitting beer twisting logs now he live with no fear said he listen to the gods
 Cuz all he ever had was his rhymes and a dream now he's getting signed to Sony at the age of 19
 First west coast tour then the whole us now everywhere he go new girl new dress
 Sold out shows now money ain't a stress he was only 19 some would say he was the best
 Getting underground respect now the same labels calling offering him check to put money in his wallet
 Think about your life or whatever you call it remember when he used to think hed be an alcoholic
 Still barely ever had a dollar in his wallet battled with addiction and almost left college
 But held himself together so that he could spread knowledge
 Think about your life or whatever you call it
 There once was a time when the sun felt weak now he's king at 21 yall the river runs deep
 (Verse 3)
 Then one day the kid came back to the city of Seattle where he learned how to rap
 Said fame is a battle and the game is a trap back to his neighborhood where he would get dap
 Saw this man in the shadows with his head in his lap
 Limbs lay lifeless wasn't just a nap his eyes wasn't open holes in his teeth
 Pipe on the ground blood cold on the street tried not to look tried to listen to the beat
 But this man sat dying in the middle of the street
 Reached in his pocket to pull out his wallet like he could save his life or whatever you would call it
 He turned to the man to offer him his help looked him in the eyes and realized it was himself
 Torn up cloths no shoes on his feet it was getting late but the city don't sleep
 The man started shaking the sun starts to tweak lying in the gutter in the mother fucking street
 He turned to the kid as his body lay week and whispered as he died kid the river runs deep
 The story of my life cuz both of them were me thinking to myself yo who I wanna be
 He turned to the kid as his body lay week and whispered as he died kid the river runs deep