There are five stages that one journeys through

on the passage to the darkside.

Fear...anger...remorse...acceptance...

each stage more tormenting than the last.

And it all begins with...



[Verse 1]

The first stage, denial, that of course is when people deny

And lie to themselves like they ain't 'bout to die

This shit get buckwild, I even seen people smile

And joke-crack, not knowin' it's all 'bout to go black

Niggas be like "Fuck that, man I can take it"

Sixteen to your back?  You ain't gon' make it

You 'bout to die, and you the only one that don't know

And here comes the ambulance ridin' all slow



"There you go.  You'll be aight.  Hear me?  You'll be aight.

Real niggas don't die!  Real niggas don't fuckin' die!"



[Verse 2]

Next is anger, you start cursin' everybody out

Even the paramedics too, 'cause now there's doubt

In the back of your head, you think "Oh shit

What if this is really it?" and start to bitch

Fear, which brings us to number three on the list

You seen your own blood, now you scared as shit

In the background, you can hear the cops talk

Sayin' "That's a damn shame why they're warmin' up the chalk"



"Dispatch, we got a 416, scuzzbucket with 14-17 holes in him.

Doesn't look good.  Think we're gonna need a bodybag." (zzzzzzzzzzzzzip)



[Verse 3]

Now here comes your girl, she wants to know why you can't get up

The firemen grab her and tell her that you been hit up

She drops down to her knees and screams out "Why?"

Now it's all dawnin' on you that (I think I'm 'bout to die)

Four's remorse, got you feelin' sorry for the shit you did

Now you realize what goes around comes back, kid

Like when you shot up the block and hit three little kids

You live by it, then you die by it, can you dig

Yeah, thought your mama told ya

But now I see you on the streets, you a thug, yeah you's a soldier

Five's acceptance, when you take the acceptance

Into your mind that your life is over