Dear God.. how can I explain myself?

[J] Oh God bless me indeed

When I'm so confused

[J] Enlarge my territory

[J] Place your love and protection over me at all times

Help me!

[J] Keep me away from evil

Somebody answer me! [echoes]

[J] Allow me not to cause pain



[Jay-Z]

Police in the background, screamin put the thing down

That's how hard I was trying to put my thing down

Si-rens ringin out, old ladies screamin out

All this attention for me and I'm barely sixteen now

.. it's feelin like a dream now

Handcuffed, roughed up, I'm tossed in the bing now

I'm lyin next to fiends now, that's the end of the story

Let me bring y'all niggaz back to the very first scene now

December 4th, a child is born

Before I knew it, had my pops trousers on

That's how we do it when the man of the house is gone

You either, stand or fall, I chose to stand

The hawk outside, so I blow my hand

It's a cold cold world but I overstand

Tryin to stay focused but I feel hopeless damn

Can't cope with bein broke, I'm a man - c'mon



[Chorus: R. Kelly]

Son don't let these streets, get the best of you

I will be right by your side, when you goin through

Son just don't let it (just don't let it)

Just don't let it (just don't let it)

Just don't let it (just don't let it)

.. get the best of you



[R. Kelly]

Late one night I was, rollin the streets

Just, thinkin about what's goin on with me and

trapped in this thug life, tryin to break free but

this thug life just keeps callin me

I'm livin life way too dangerously

I'm drownin in my misery

Looked in the mirror, there's my enemy

Cause poppa never was a part of me

Take one step at a time, mama said

Sweet memories still remain in my head

All of my life been lied to, misled

Voices be like, "Don't you wish you was dead?"

No ground to place my feet

I feel the fire under me

A way out is all I need

Somebody, answer me!



[Chorus + ad libs]



[Jay-Z]

Now the only thing left is more spirit to roam free

.. cause ain't no goin home for me

It's a cold cold world but I blew my hand

A true first cause I knew that man

I knew what he would do if I didn't draw first

And I couldn't stand the thought of my momma steppin foot inside a church

All I try to do is try to get up out the dirt

Guess he's tryin to do the same, told me get up out his turf

I wanted to talk to him, but that shit'd never work

We was cut from the same cloth and what was under his shirt was his

momma's rent, his young brother's clothes

My nephew's food, and with that I suppose

.. and with that I froze

Now my life is frozen in time behind these iron folds

And this story is told, for young soldiers

who never choose the life we chose



[Chorus + (ad libs)]



[R. Kelly]

Tears in my eyes as I look up, I'm tryin to

hold back my pride but reality is screamin

Gotta get a job cause mo-mma also screamin

Streets are just like drugs, and it's like I'm out here fiendin

Forget all the hits in the industry, cause

ain't no exceptions in this game for me, look

Neither God or my enemies, I

choose God cause he understands, this

young man with a thuggish heart

Whole world in his hands but still torn apart

Like I'm so close, but it's still so far

Nightmares of me in a swervin car, ohhh

No ground to place my feet (my feet)

I feel the fire under me (heyyy)

A way out is all I need (all I need)

Somebody, answer me!



[Chorus + ad libs]