Gangsta's Paradise - James Morrison

As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

I take a look at my life

And realize there's nothing left.

‘Cause I've been blasting and laughing so long

That even my momma thinks that my mind has gone.

But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it.

Me be treated like a punk, you know that's unheard of.

You betta watch how ya talking

And where ya walking

Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk.

I really hate to trip but I gotta lop,

As they croak, I see myself in the pistol smoke.

Fool, I'm the kinda g that little homie's wanna be like,

On my knees in the night

Saying prayers in the street light.

We've been spending most our lives

Living in a gangsta's paradise.

We've been spending most our lives

Living in a gangsta's paradise.

We keep spending most our lives

Living in a gangsta's paradise.

We keep spending most our lives

Living in a gangsta's paradise.

Look at the situation, they got me facing,

I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the street.

So I gotta be down with the ‘hood team,

Too much television watching, got me chasing dreams.

I'm an educated fool with money on my mind

Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye.

I'm a loc'ed out gangsta, set tripping banger

And my homies are down so don't arouse my anger.

Fool, death ain't nothing but a heart beat away,

I'm living life do or die, what can I say?

I'm twenty-three now, will I ever live to see twenty-four,

The way things is going I don't know.

Tell me why are we

So blind to see.

That the ones we hurt

Are you and me?

We've been spending most our lives

Living in a gangsta's paradise.

We've been spending most our lives

Living in a gangsta's paradise.

We keep spending most our lives

Living in a gangsta's paradise.

We keep spending most our lives

Living in a gangsta's paradise.

Power and the money, money and the power,

Minute after minute, hour after hour,

Everybody's running, but half of them ain't looking

It's going on in the kitchen

But I don't know what's cooking.

They say I gotta learn

But nobody's here to teach me.

If they can't understand it, how can they reach me?

I guess they can't,

I guess they won't,

I guess they front,

That's why I know my life is out of luck, foo!

We've been spending most our lives

Living in a gangsta's paradise.

We've been spending most our lives

Living in a gangsta's paradise.

We keep spending most our lives

Living in a gangsta's paradise.

We keep spending most our lives

Living in a gangsta's paradise.

Tell me why are we

So blind to see.

That the ones we hurt

Are you and me?

Tell me why are we

So blind to see.

That the ones we hurt

Are you and me?