Where I've Been

To all the youth in the world that thinks nobody understands

Well I understand that

It’s been hard for me

Trying strugglin’ in the streets

But where I’ve been- Is no longer where I’m at

And where I’m going- Is not where I’m stoppin’ at

It’s been hard for me

Trying strugglin’ in the streets

But where I’ve been- Is no longer where I’m at

And where I’m going- Is not where I’m stoppin’ at

I grew up as a 70’s baby

Brought up in poverty and sin

Makin’ jokes at the crazy lady

Never cared how she was dealin’ within

I knew all the words to

Micheal Jackson’s album as a kid

And when it came to the biggest crusher

No he wasn’t my man

At the age of seven years old

A strange thing happened to me

Before I even saw

My life had flashed before me

And I’ve got the mark to show

And it became a thang of beauty

So I gotta let you know

That my life, that my life

It’s been hard for me

Trying strugglin’ in the streets

But where I’ve been- Is no longer where I’m at

And where I’m going- Is not where I’m stoppin’ at

It’s been hard for me

Trying strugglin’ in the streets

But where I’ve been- Is no longer where I’m at

And where I’m going- Is not where I’m stoppin’ at

It’s been hard for me

Trying strugglin’ in the streets

But where I’ve been- Is no longer where I’m at

And where I’m going- Is not where I’m stoppin’ at

Now mama’s workin’ hard all day

And she said this before she left home

Take care of your little brother

Have the place cleaned when I get home

All these priorities

Me and Tanya had to learn to be grown

But at the time for me

Being grown had seemed so lone

Woke up and I’m seventeen

With nothing going for me

Except the fact that I sing

You know it hurts so much

From all the sights that I’ve seen

From abusin’ the hole in trust

You probably couldn’t take some of things

That I’ve lived in my life

It’s been hard for me

Trying strugglin’ in the streets

But where I’ve been- Is no longer where I’m at

And where I’m going- Is not where I’m stoppin’ at

It’s been hard for me

Trying strugglin’ in the streets

But where I’ve been- Is no longer where I’m at

And where I’m going- Is not where I’m stoppin’ at

It’s been hard for me

Trying strugglin’ in the streets

But where I’ve been- Is no longer where I’m at

And where I’m going- Is not where I’m stoppin’ at

It’s hard and the street’s a jungle I’m telling you, I’m telling you

Especially with your pretty colors I’m telling you, I’m telling you

So stay low and keep it humble I’m telling you, I’m telling you

Black women hold it down, keep your feet on the ground

Black men keep searching and you’ll be found

It’s been hard for me

Trying strugglin’ in the streets

But where I’ve been- Is no longer where I’m at

And where I’m going- Is not where I’m stoppin’ at

It’s been hard for me

Trying strugglin’ in the streets

But where I’ve been- Is no longer where I’m at

And where I’m going- Is not where I’m stoppin’ at

In this world of continuous b******t and full clips

Seems all we have to pass down is being useless

Broken homes, babies all alone, parent’s never there

No food, no clothes to wear, anger everywhere

Ain’t no values being taught, no productive thoughts

Jealousy rules the world, take sh*t at any cost

Gotta change our state of life, make it worth livin’

God gave us voices to speak and that’s our way of givin’

It’s so much bigger than the furs and the jewels

What about encouragin’ the youth to do well

What about givin’ back- what about unifying

Sh*t we all black- get it together

Everybody’s got their trials and tribulations

Learn to change the negative to positive situations

Don’t hold the lessons that you learn

Pass it on and except the blessings that could earn

It’s been hard for me

Trying strugglin’ in the streets

But where I’ve been- Is no longer where I’m at

And where I’m going- Is not where I’m stoppin’ at

It’s been hard for me

Trying strugglin’ in the streets

But where I’ve been- Is no longer where I’m at

And where I’m going- Is not where I’m stoppin’ at

It’s been hard for me

Trying strugglin’ in the streets

But where I’ve been- Is no longer where I’m at

And where I’m going- Is not where I’m stoppin’ at

It’s been hard for me

Trying strugglin’ in the streets