[N.E.R.D.]

Yo, wake up, wake up

Ghetto children

Wake up, wake up

Ghetto children

Wake up, wake up

Ghetto children

Wake up, wake up

Ghetto children

Wake up, wake up

Hey, hey



[Marc Dorsey (Kelis)]

You're a ghetto boy

You're my life

And there's so much for you to protect and to save

And baby boy don't hit your wife

Cause your kids may grow up someday to be this way, yeah



You don't know what you may be

To some boy in society

There's a secret to why

(There's a secret)

You must survive

So listen to what we say

Cause this type of shit happens every day



[1] - [Kelis & Marc Dorsey]

Come for yours cause dreams come true

And this is the message that we bring through

Say hey now, hey now, now

Hey now, hey now

No matter what teachers say to you

Ghetto children are beautiful

Say hey now, hey now, now

Hey now, hey now



[Kelis & Marc]

Baby girl you're my life

It's important that you smile

And never cry

(Don't never cry)

Study math and your sciences

Maybe you'll figure why we subtract and not multiply



You don't know what you may be

To some girl in society

There's a secret to why

We must survive

So listen to what we say

Cause this type of shit happens every day



[Repeat 1]



[N.E.R.D.]

Crack town ghetto in the city

Buildings are abandoned but the girls are still pretty

A child looks in the mirror

Yeah to see my life clearer

All I see is ghetto keys to this jet black coke gram

Nine eleven course

Of course 911 don't mean help

The only ones that need help is them sons without wealth

It's apparent that this nation they don't know what they facing

Young natural born killers and these street corner masons

You want that type of money that you see in the mob cliques

With your stashes in the drawers

Yes with the lumps under my carpet

Listen to your heart

Why should I listen to you?

I was here from the start

But you don't bring no money through

Look I only feel capes

And to get it I kill Jakes

By the time I'm 20 wanna be the ghetto Bill Gates

You a wannabe an angel

That was in my brain too

Now the only Star Spangle's coming out my Cango

Now that I'm out it's like the whole world flames you

Although the ghetto's nothing like the conclusion I came to

Your friends see you playing both sides

Now they don't claim you

Ghetto children change the world

Don't let the world change you, come on word



[Repeat 1]



[Repeat 1]



[N.E.R.D.]

Little children wanna seem part of

The whole world wants to be apart of

A little ghetto things, a little ghetto things

Ay yo, ay yo

Little children wanna seem part of

The whole world wants to be apart of

My little ghetto kings, my little ghetto queens