It's been two years, man
Of, of, of waitin', man
(Can it be I stayed away too long?)

From my supporters and my fans, man I know y'all been waitin'
Now it's finally here and thank you for your patience
The world's gone crazy since we last spoke
Bloodshed and war, the absence of hope

Shootin' at the school, economy's a joke
Homies on heroine, homies on coke
But can you even blame 'em when they only tryin' to cope, damn?
(Can it be I stayed away too long?)

All these rappers wanna talk about is guns and dope
Don't they realize, we all at the end of our rope
The future all depends in the power of our quotes
The power of a pen, the power of a vote

The power of your words, the power of your voice
The power of America's the freedom of choice
We choose to do nothin', we lose and we sufferin'
(Can it be?)
That it's time to do somethin'

It's not socialism, it's not communism
It's lovin' each other, realize there's no difference
It's positive movement, gradual improvement
When no one else does believe you can do it

My heart is a speaker, I bleed this music
The beat's in my blood, I must transfuse it
If it wasn't for this, yeah I just might lose it, damn
(Can it be I stayed away too long?)

My goddaughters, Nadia, Simone
Diana know when not our father's ever comin' home
Claim by the streets with them other war zone
Tears in my eyes as I'm writin' this song

Mommy workin' two jobs, tryin' to do it on her own
No matter where I go or how far I roam
Know that I love and you'll never be alone
(Can it be?)
Damn, y'all so grown

And a, and a wise man told me, man like
(You don't have to worry 'cause I'm coming)
Life is like a table full of like glasses of water
(Back to where I should have always stayed)
And your job is to keep 'em all full, you know what I'm sayin'

So everyone's happy
(And now, I've heard the maybe to your story)
But at the same time, you gotta keep your pitcher full of water
So you could fill everybody else up
(And it's enough love for me to stay)
And it's like, damn
(Can it be I stayed away too long?)

From the independent hip hop scene
Now they talkin' like how I'm not a hip hop fiend
Needle in my arm, can't they see I'm O.D.'in?
You'll never take the strife from this triple O.G. in

I blaze trails, created festivals
Lost fifty G's on paid dues, is that acceptable
What? I'm not down for the cause
(Can it be?)
Hold on Mike, I'ma need a few bars

I could've done the Nas and scream hip hop is dead
I got up off my ass and I did somethin' instead
Signed with the devil, brought the scene up a level
Killed the beast from within, I'm a born again rebel

Tryin' to save the youth from the way of the gun
And if I only save one then my job is done
So you can say what you will but you should judge me none
(Can it be I stayed away too long?)

From my God, from my faith as I move place to place
Times I thought if I could just die it'd be great
Drop on the spot, man I didn't even care
I stopped talkin' to you, I stopped sayin' prayers

Numb from the liquor and the antidepressants
Pressure from the label, studio stressin'
Almost lost my passion to pursue this profession
(Can it be I stayed away too long?)

From myself, from my soul when I'm out on the road
I give so much shout to these kids I don't know
I thought I lost you with no one to talk to
But you're the one that open up these doors that I walk through

I can't fault you, only forgive you
I'm the only one that seen the pain that you been through
The drama, the struggle that built all your issues
(Can it be I stayed away too long?)

The drama, the struggle, that built all these issues
Is all just to make sure they never forget you

Did I leave your mind when I was gone?
It's not my thing trying to get back
But this time let me tell you where I'm at