Whassup, little man, what's wrong wit'chu?
Why you lookin' so sad? What's wrong?

Man, I went to school today
And the teacher said I couldn't be no rapper
Say what? Why she tell you that?
She told me I had to be somethin' that's more realistic
Like I could actually be, like a construction worker or somethin'

Man, construction workers ain't realistic man
You can't be out there in that sun all day, boy, it's hot out there
Man, just keep on goin' to school, get your education
That way you could be anything you want to be

I just wanna sing, can I sing you a song?
I bet you'll love it
(I just wanna sing)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
(I-I ain't askin' for much)

I just wanna sing, can I sing you a song?
I bet you'll love it
(I ain't askin' for much)
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Listen, I just wanna make music, I just wanna verse or two
In fact, man, I wanna be a rapper too
And I could probably sing the blues 'cause I got problems too
Plus I growed up in the projects too

Well, can you put me on your soundtrack?
'Cause I got a good theme song that Berry White could probably sing on
Yo, I just want a chance at stardom
I just wanna be more than a thief or robber

Well, what about a remix? And I could probably make the beat
And get it done all in less than a week
And make it clean for the radio, so the kids could watch the video
Yo, but y'all don't hear me tho

Man, I just want a crack at it, if I fail, I'll be back
'Cause I refuse to be a crack addict
I wanna prove the critics wrong, what started off with a poem
And turn it into a song, now, I'ma sing it for you

I just wanna sing, can I sing you a song?
I bet you'll love it
(I just wanna sing)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
(I-I ain't askin' for much)

I just wanna sing, can I sing you a song?
I bet you'll love it
(I ain't askin' for much)
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Listen to me, I wanna be a legend one day, that way
I can be put in the same category with Barry White and Marvin Gaye
And have a tribute dedicated to me
Sell platinum records and win Grammys so that the world can see

You could be anything that you want to be
Play sports or make music, just put your mind to it
And yo, I ain't the typical 'American Idol' but when I'm done
I'm sure the boy, Simon will like me everybody can't act or rap
And no matter how real the dream seem, e'rybody can't sing

But there's another Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods
Somewhere right in the hood, plus
Yo, you ain't never seen a meaner team
Of tennis players than Venus and Serena
So, it's people like that that helped people like me
And they gave me the courage to sing, so I'ma sing it for ya

I just wanna sing, can I sing you a song?
I bet you'll love it
(I just wanna sing)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
(I-I ain't askin' for much)

I just wanna sing, can I sing you a song?
I bet you'll love it
(I ain't askin' for much)
Yeah, yeah, yeah

I wanna do commercial and TV shows
I wanna blow and sell records like the Bee gees sold
And I don't really need a chauffeur, I don't need a maid or a cook
Just a vacuum cleaner and coasters

And I can cook and clean for myself, with the right promo team
I feel, I can really do big things, and
I could probably write me a book
With all the stuff I got to tell 'em, it's got to be a best seller

And it's way deeper than a coke and a smile
Why go to schools when the teachers ain't helpin' us out?
My art teacher drive a Benz but he ain't bein' artistic
I got music second period but the class won't listen, I wanna sing

So, to all the kids
All the mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers of the world
You know? Our kids need encouragement
We need a reason, ya know what I'm sayin'
Let's show 'em somethin', let's give 'em somethin' to look forward to

So, all you teachers that ain't doin' your job, y'all step aside
'Cause I got a little brother and sister that's gon'
Grow up one day and be a teacher
And she gon' actually teach somethin' you know?
She gon' make it worth comin' to school y'know?
It's deeper than free lunch, now

I just wanna sing, I used to be just like you
Thank God, we got greater later