[Intro]

Aight..

it went down like this

a day just like today

just...doing my thing, you know?



[Chorus x2]

Look before you leap, walk before you run

run from anything that threatens peaceful existence

Look before you leap, walk before you run

run as far as you can until you reach a safe distance

we've been running from day one

never even thought to ask why or what from

only taught to run, only taught to run

only taught to run, only taught to run



I learned how to walk at age one

and wasn't satified until I learned how to run

at age eighteen I didn't want to run

but I had to run from the shots fired by a gun

fourty-eight hours, two cycles of the sun

I couldn't run from the shock that paralyzed my tongue

it made not want to speak a word to anyone

felt like the breath had been stolen from my lungs

who would've told my mother that she lost her youngest son

tears in her eyes standing there feeling stunned

to hear that her baby fell victim to a gun

playing basketball outside having fun

it's sad but it happens all the time where I'm from

so I grew up thinking I'd never reach twenty-one

it's sad but it happens all the time where I'm from

but I'm still here, cause I learned how to run



[Chorus X2]



my inner city people

put your hands up if you're feeling me

I'm not alone running from fear of cops killing me

running from utilities, running from responsibilities

running from flashbacks and memories

it's funny how we run into the arms of strong women

run away when its time to talk about committment

I've seen women, run away from Mr. Right

then turn around and say that there ain't no good men in sight

even thugs run when the streets turn into hell

some run to the cops cause its safer in a cell

some cats used to run the streets and act fool

got robbed and didn't run but they had to run their jewels

some used to run shit on basketball courts

they got kids now running from child support

it's sad but it happens all the time where I'm from

sometimes I wish that we never learned how to run



[Chorus X2]