[First Verse:]



When I was young, I wanted to be man of the house

Have a car, kids, and Vanessa Williams as my spouse

A dog in the yard, to protect the premises

Fuck Good Times, I'm talkin' about some of that Cosby shit

Four bedroom home, white trimmed with green

I'll be a doctor, regular American dream

I'll go to college, obtain some knowledge and a degree

I'll go to Stanford, CSUS, or maybe UCB

Could go to law school, try to pass the bar

I could be a fireman, maybe a movie star

Could play hoops and be the next Mike J.

Gettin' paid for a game I like to play anyway

Man, so many options, which will I choose? 

Pursuin' my dreams and I'm willin' to pay dues

Gotta take care of Mama, I'ma buy her a house too

Look out for my sister, the first thing I'ma do

When I'm rich, no more apartments full of roaches

We'll have the best of everything, at least that's what I'm hopin'

So in the innocence of youth, I stand strong

As my future unfolds I keep holdin' on 



[Chorus:] 



Hold on, never let 'em see you shed a tear

My soul's gone, on the inside I've been dead for years

Hold on

Mama, all my love's for you

So much drama in the World, what's a thug to do? 



[x2] 



[Second Verse:]



Now it's deep, it's gettin', it's gettin' kinda hectic

Cuz life as an adult ain't quite what I expected

Bills to pay and mouths to feed

Everybody askin' for what they want, instead of what they need

I thought it would be easy, I was mistaken

Thought my folks would have my back, but they be fakin'

I went to the pen instead of college

Tryin' to have more than a dollar in my wallet

Fucked around and got a girl pregnant

My baby

Won't be neglected the way my Daddy did me

All of my dreams turned to nightmares

And if I tell you about it, maybe you might care

I got a [???] girl pregnant but she got an abortion

Said I wasn't disciplined and didn't have caution

Didn't want her only child to be fatherless

She told me I would be dead before next autumn hits

I disagree, but maybe she's right in a sense

Cuz I'm a "G" until the day they put me in the crypt

No bullshit

Hard livin' got me on one

Until the day I D-I-E I'ma be holdin' on

Standin' strong 



[Chorus]



[Third Verse:]



Holidays come and go kinda quick in the pen

I got a call from my sister, it's my birthday again

I barely noticed, deuce-five to life for murder

On Thanksgiving they fed us potato tots and hamburgers

I made my bed, but it's too hard to be layin' in it

Fightin' the drama, but for some reason I'm stayin' in it

Writin' to Mama, "Can your son get a visit?"

"I'm feelin' a little depressed, can you tell me what is it?"

"What you suggest?  I'm stressed out beyond belief."

"So much weight on my chest daily, I'm missin' the streets."

Got me stretched out like a pregnant lady's belly

X-Raided is stagnated and it's drivin' me crazy

I created this situation, I know that's the truth

No father figures in the ghetto, but that ain't no excuse

Mama excuse my behavior please

Feels like my soul's gone

Pray for your only son, need to be strong

And hold on 



[Chorus:]



Hold on, never let 'em see you shed a tear

My soul's gone, on the inside I've been dead for years

Hold on

Mama, all my love's for you

So much drama in the World, what's a thug to do? 

Hold on.......shed a tear

My soul's gone.......dead for years

(No father figures in the ghetto but that ain't no excuse) 

Hold on

Mama, all my love's for you

(Mama excuse my behavior please, feels like my soul's gone

pray for your only son cuz you need to be strong) 

So much drama in the World, what's a thug to do? 

Stretched out like a pregnant lady's belly

X-Raided is stagnated and it's drivin' me crazy

I created this situation, I know that's the truth

No father figures in the ghetto, but that ain't no excuse

Mama excuse my behavior please

Feels like soul's gone

Pray for your only son, need you to be strong, and hold on