Anything You Wanna Be

Teacher, teacher
I need some good advice
I'm a poor kid from the city
And I'm worried that my schooling won't suffice
To find myself a job
That lifts me high enough
So I won't be stuck here running
From the guns and drugs and boys in metal cuffs

'Cause when you come from where I do
The odds are against you
So you better keep a look out
When you see the boys in blue
And the whispers all around me
Say that I won't make good money
Oh, teacher can you help me?
And she said
You can

Be anything you wanna be
Let no one tell you differently
Roll up those dirty sleeves
And you can live the life you've always dreamed
You know I want the best for you
So just do the best that you can do
Work hard and you will see that you can
Be anything you wanna be

Five years later
Still stuck in the same spot
Try'na work his way through college
But the bill he's gotta pay's an awful lot
Just the other night
A drive-by took his friend
It's been hard, his grades are suffering
And God knows he'll never make it to the end

'Cause when trouble's all around you
The odds are against you
So you better keep your head down
When the gang is rolling through
Still his mother always told him
As she strove to feed and clothe him
It always left him hoping
She would say
You can

Be anything you wanna be
Let no one tell you differently
Roll up those dirty sleeves
And you can live the life you've always dreamed
You know I want the best for you
So just do the best that you can do
Work hard and you will see that you can
Be anything you wanna be

Be anything you wanna be
Be anything you wanna be
Roll up those dirty sleeves
And you can be anything you wanna be
Be anything you wanna be
Be anything you wanna be
Work hard and you will see that you can
Be anything you wanna be

Be anything you wanna be
Be anything you wanna be
Roll up those dirty sleeves
And you can live the life you've always dreamed
You know I want the best for you
So just do the best that you can do
Work hard and you will see that you can
Be anything you wanna be