Growing up I've seen a lot of shit in my time
   I've seen hunger, hunger, pleasure, pain, violence and crime
   I have learned from the mistakes of my friends that have died
   And from those who have gone down in life that just never tried
   Life is just too short I realize that now
   I'm gonna get my shit together and I try to make it some how
   Cause one thing that I have learned is that you only live once
   So now I'll take life by the balls and squeeze until they crunch
  
   Knowledge of the streets, a valuable tool
   Type of education you can't get in school
   Many hard times, losing friends, getting burned
   nobody to teach me, I just learned
   A man like clay molded by his surroundings
   He starts to take shape of the beating and the pounding
   Assembly line that I've been through
   A hard motherfucker with a bad attitude
   Maybe its just the times we live in
   Maybe its just urban discipline
  
   The way of urban life are not as they seem
   Standing up and fighting is what living here means
   In order to survive you've fot to earn your respect
   The only lessons that you learn are from things that you regret
  
   Lead
   Verse II
  
   Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island and Queens
   Standing up and fighting is what living here means
   In order to survive you've fot to earn your respect
   The only lessons that you learn are from things that you regret