Still I Rise

Dear Lord

As we down here, struggle for as long as we know

In search of a paradise to touch (Johnny J)

Dreams are dreams, and reality seems to be the only place to go

The only place for us

I know, try to make the best of bad situations

Seems to be my life's story

Ain't no glory in pain, a soldier's story in vain

And can't nobody live this life for me

It's a ride y'all, a long hard ride

Somebody break me I'm dreamin', I started as a seed the semen

Swimmin' upstream, planted in the womb while screamin'

On the top, was my pops, my momma screamin' stop

From a single drop, this is what they got

Not to disrespect my peoples but my poppa was a loser

Only plan he had for momma was to f- her and abuse her

Even as a little seed, I could see his plan for me

Stranded on welfare, another broken family

Now what was I to be, a product of this heated passion

Momma got pregnant, and poppa got a piece of a-

Look how it began, nobody gave a f- about me

Pi- in my hand, this cruel world can do without me

How can I survive? Got me askin' white Jesus

"Will a nigga live or die? 'Cause the Lord can't see us"

In the deep dark clouds of the projects, ain't no sunshine

No sunny days and we only play sometimes

When everybody's sleepin'

I open my window jump to the streets and get to creepin'

I can live or die, hope I get some money 'fore I'm gone

I'm only 19, I'm tryin' to hustle on my own

On the spot where everybody and they pops tryin' to slang rocks

I'd rather go to college, but this is where the game stops

Don't get it wrong 'cause it's always on, from dusk to dawn

You can buy r-

You can ask my man Ishmael Reed

Keep my .9 heated all the time this is how we grind

Meet up at the cemetery then get sm- out, pass the w- nigga

That Hennessey'll keep me keyed

Everywhere I go n- holla at me, "Keep it real G"

And my reply "'til they kill me

Act up if you feel me, I was born not to make it but I did

The tribulations of a Ghetto kid, still I rise"

Still I (still I) I rise (I rise)

Please give me to the sky (the sky)

And if (and if) I die (I die)

I don't want you to cry

I stay sharp as always

Runnin' ya bricks with bl-, through ya project hallways

Dumpin' crews like two's, nigga all day

Secrets of war prepare me for the worst

So life that's lavish full of cabbage or a life that's in a hearse

But now my dreams it seems though

Be placin' triple beams and things bro

Diamond pinkie ring got the loot poppin' out my jeans

Till my-

Trouble was searchin' for me then why not?

Show em what I'm made of plus raised on, on my block

Chancellor Ave', where many turn to the street, thugs snatchin' bags

We out for power, makin' cash it wasn't fast it'll make me mad

I'm just like, pimpin'

My homey on the corner with his gat tucked, in

Youngest they buckin' somethin' the life he leads

The life he don't need, don't we all know

He tryin' to rise up and we just go doe, still he rise

Dreams of lost hope

I hit the strip broke where the fiends get c-

And still I rise now I float cowards ghost

Whenever we come around, I'm runnin' down

Clutchin' a p-, live as sirens, duckin' the sound

I used to hustle with my moms 'til the sun came

My hommy Harm doin' time from this drug game

Stolen cars, war scars, born a Outlaw

Behind bars, go to sleep just to see the stars

Freedom is ours, though we trapped on a firm block

Ten only ten learn to duck cops

In '96 my gl- my plastic, passion for blastin' bas-

No faces for open caskets, peelin' ya cap backwards

You cowards ain't prepared for pistol practice

I send my mi- through your mattress

Leavin' between your body like a cactus

While me and my crew be boppin' more greens than topic

And loot to keep the seams in my mother-n' jeans poppin'

Leavin' ya spleen to pick up

Half of you n- is softer than a Snicker

So, let's go to war and see who draw quicker

And still I rise, and still I rise

Still I (still I) I rise (I rise)

Please give me to the sky (the sky)

And if (and if) I die (I die)

I don't want you to cry

Still I (still I) I rise (I rise)

Please give me to the sky (the sky)

And if (and if) I die (I die)

I don't want you to cry

Y'all niggas be fake

All day, everyday

Now I got roller blades, bitch

Thought you knew

Your mouth is rich