Play in Peoria

Born in Peoria and lyrically gifted
Live in California now, I'm spiritually lifted
You're living on opinions that you're hearing from children
I'm looking for the facts but they appear to be missing
If you don't think I'm great, you don't hear what I'm spitting
I represent my home state, you know the land of Lincoln
North of Springfield, south of Chicago, where my city is
Ordinary citizen that might've hooped with Livingston
Shaun Livingston, how'd you know who he was?
Probably because I grew up in the East Bluff
We had the hoop base with the bricks on the stand
Never filled it with sand
And you might've seen a backboard attached
To the back of a garage with a sidewalk that's cracked
You know who you are
Heard of Jim Thome? He played for the Cleveland Somethin's
Just to keep it simple I'll say he's my niece's uncle
I shook his hand and it transferred me a spark
'Cause now I'm making hits and knocking 'em out the park
Might not wanna stay here after dark
But yes it might play here, Groucho Marx
Gotta credit Dan Fogelberg for musicianship
Richard Pryor lived right by where my family lived
I'm from Peoria, like a lot of other greats
It's where I get my stories from, man I'll tell it to you straight

Will this Play in Peoria? (Play in Peoria)
Will this Play in Peoria? (Peoria)
Will this Play in Peoria? (Play in Peoria)
Will this Play in Peoria? (Peoria)

Will this Play in Peoria? (Play in Peoria)
Will this Play in Peoria? (Peoria)
Will this Play in Peoria? (Play in Peoria)
Will this Play in Peoria? (Play in Peoria)

Mad potential like an action potential
Flow so sick that a mask is essential
Now I'm grabbing mechanical pencil
'Cause bars go hard like a math differential
If you got some good news I'd be happy to hear it
I was up late last night recrafting my lyrics
I don't rap about violence, I don't flow about gats
My counselor said to let go of my past
If I said it was a gag, you'd know I was joking
But if I say that in Cali they think that I'm choking
The Midwest in you is really showing
It could be worse man, I could be ope'ing
That's just my habitat, I didn't have it that bad
Just don't go out at night
But it's gotten worse and from what I've heard
Every day there now is like the Fourth of July
And you can't walk the block without getting shot and murdered
Now you got two victims of generational curses
Your comfort zone is blocking your successes
And we don't set goals, we just manage expectations
Never on a roll, you stopping every second
Always counting dough when you should be counting blessings
Always on your phone 'cause you gotta feel connected
And always on the scroll but it's got you feeling restless
Stocks haven't shown return on your investment
Landlord let you know that he wants a bigger rent check
Where you gonna go if next month you get evicted?
You'll be phoning home and asking for a guest bed
I'm going for the gold, you can have the silver
I'm aiming for the throne, you can be my jester
It's almost time to go, did I forget to mention?
I'm playing Mario, but you kids are stuck on Tetris

Will this Play in Peoria? (Play in Peoria)
Will this Play in Peoria? (Peoria)
Will this Play in Peoria? (Play in Peoria)
Will this Play in Peoria? (Peoria)

Will this Play in Peoria? (Play in Peoria)
Will this Play in Peoria? (Peoria)
Will this Play in Peoria? (Play in Peoria)
Will this Play in Peoria? (Play in Peoria)

So if you got a drink pour it up
Will this Play in Peoria?
It's the whiskey city
I don't gotta make the story up (Play in Peoria)

Will this Play in Peoria?
With the Wildcats and Warriors?
That's my grade school and high school
But both of them got metaphorically boarded up
(Play in Peoria)

Will this Play in Peoria?
Got the city in my genes like Gloria
Will this Play in Peoria?
I've got the city in my genes (Play in Peoria)

Play in Peoria (Play in Peoria)
(Play in Peoria, Play in Peoria)
Play in, play in, play in, play in
Play in Peoria