I was born..

I was born..

I was born..

I was born in a concrete jungle

and I learned to make my own way (learned to make my own way)

I was raised by streets and the beats

and the books and crooks of L.A.

I was taken by the power of the word

and I had a whole lot to say (had a whole lot to say)

And I vowed, always to move the crowd

and leave em in disarray

Cause I live by the word AND I die by the sword

These here are strange days AND we here are strong

We live by the sword AND we die by the slug

This here is war AND this here is love

Soldiers are marching in

And they're going to battle again

Somebody's going to win

and somebody will lose -- and that's the truth!

Gotta learn to fight for yours

Livin in this life of yours

See they can't stifle yours

if you refuse to abused, fools listen to this news

I don't beg, steal or borrow

I don't expect to see tomorrow

I don't usually soak in sorrow

cause I keep all eyes on the sparrow

Cause we live by the word AND we die by the sword

These here are strange days AND we here are strong

We live by the sword AND we die by the slug

This here is war AND this here is love

Soldiers are marching in

And they going to battle again

Somebody's going to win

and somebody will lose -- and that's the real!

Gotta learn to fight for yours

Livin in this life of yours

See they can't stifle yours

if you refuse to abused, fools listen to this news

Uh-huh, fools listen to this news

Whashup, crews listen to this news

Oh yeah, you listen to this news

Listen, listen, listen, to this news