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?
  
   (2x)
  
   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