Still I Rise

Dear Lord
As we down here, struggle for as long as we know
In search of a paradise to touch (Johnny J)
Dreams are dreams, and reality seems to be the only place to go
The only place for us

I know, try to make the best of bad situations
Seems to be my life's story
Ain't no glory in pain, a soldier's story in vain
And can't nobody live this life for me
It's a ride y'all, a long hard ride

Somebody break me I'm dreamin', I started as a seed the semen
Swimmin' upstream, planted in the womb while screamin'
On the top, was my pops, my momma screamin' stop
From a single drop, this is what they got
Not to disrespect my peoples but my poppa was a loser
Only plan he had for momma was to f- her and abuse her
Even as a little seed, I could see his plan for me

Stranded on welfare, another broken family
Now what was I to be, a product of this heated passion
Momma got pregnant, and poppa got a piece of a-
Look how it began, nobody gave a f- about me
Pi- in my hand, this cruel world can do without me
How can I survive? Got me askin' white Jesus
"Will a nigga live or die? 'Cause the Lord can't see us"

In the deep dark clouds of the projects, ain't no sunshine
No sunny days and we only play sometimes
When everybody's sleepin'
I open my window jump to the streets and get to creepin'
I can live or die, hope I get some money 'fore I'm gone

I'm only 19, I'm tryin' to hustle on my own
On the spot where everybody and they pops tryin' to slang rocks
I'd rather go to college, but this is where the game stops
Don't get it wrong 'cause it's always on, from dusk to dawn
You can buy r-
You can ask my man Ishmael Reed

Keep my .9 heated all the time this is how we grind
Meet up at the cemetery then get sm- out, pass the w- nigga
That Hennessey'll keep me keyed
Everywhere I go n- holla at me, "Keep it real G"
And my reply "'til they kill me
Act up if you feel me, I was born not to make it but I did
The tribulations of a Ghetto kid, still I rise"

Still I (still I) I rise (I rise)
Please give me to the sky (the sky)
And if (and if) I die (I die)
I don't want you to cry

I stay sharp as always
Runnin' ya bricks with bl-, through ya project hallways
Dumpin' crews like two's, nigga all day
Secrets of war prepare me for the worst
So life that's lavish full of cabbage or a life that's in a hearse
But now my dreams it seems though
Be placin' triple beams and things bro

Diamond pinkie ring got the loot poppin' out my jeans
Till my-
Trouble was searchin' for me then why not?
Show em what I'm made of plus raised on, on my block
Chancellor Ave', where many turn to the street, thugs snatchin' bags
We out for power, makin' cash it wasn't fast it'll make me mad

I'm just like, pimpin'
My homey on the corner with his gat tucked, in
Youngest they buckin' somethin' the life he leads
The life he don't need, don't we all know
He tryin' to rise up and we just go doe, still he rise

Dreams of lost hope
I hit the strip broke where the fiends get c-
And still I rise now I float cowards ghost
Whenever we come around, I'm runnin' down
Clutchin' a p-, live as sirens, duckin' the sound
I used to hustle with my moms 'til the sun came

My hommy Harm doin' time from this drug game
Stolen cars, war scars, born a Outlaw
Behind bars, go to sleep just to see the stars
Freedom is ours, though we trapped on a firm block
Ten only ten learn to duck cops

In '96 my gl- my plastic, passion for blastin' bas-
No faces for open caskets, peelin' ya cap backwards
You cowards ain't prepared for pistol practice
I send my mi- through your mattress
Leavin' between your body like a cactus
While me and my crew be boppin' more greens than topic

And loot to keep the seams in my mother-n' jeans poppin'
Leavin' ya spleen to pick up
Half of you n- is softer than a Snicker
So, let's go to war and see who draw quicker
And still I rise, and still I rise

Still I (still I) I rise (I rise)
Please give me to the sky (the sky)
And if (and if) I die (I die)
I don't want you to cry

Still I (still I) I rise (I rise)
Please give me to the sky (the sky)
And if (and if) I die (I die)
I don't want you to cry

Y'all niggas be fake
All day, everyday
Now I got roller blades, bitch
Thought you knew
Your mouth is rich