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[ti:pray] |
|
[ar:jay-z] |
| [00:20.771] |
Mind state of a gangster from the 40's, |
| [00:22.301] |
meets the business mind of motown's Berry Gordy, |
| [00:25.771] |
turned crack rock into a chain of 40/40's, |
| [00:27.411] |
sorry my jewerly is so gaudy,slid into the party with my new pair of Mauri's, |
| [00:32.851] |
America,meet the gangster Shawn Corey,hey young world, |
| [00:36.531] |
wanna hear a story, |
| [00:38.251] |
close your eyes and you can pretend you're me, |
| [00:40.691] |
I'm cut from the cloth of the Kennedys,Frank Sinatra havin'dinner with the Genovese', |
| [00:45.181] |
the is the genesis of a nemisis, |
| [00:48.521] |
mother America not witnessed since, |
| [00:51.251] |
the harlem renaissance birthed black businessman, |
| [00:52.721] |
this is the tale of lost innocence, |
| [00:56.731] |
and the incense burns and the turntables turn, |
| [00:59.691] |
and that Al Green plays, |
| [01:02.111] |
I see my mothers afro,as mama taps her toes, |
| [01:04.521] |
as she rolls her j's, |
| [01:07.161] |
and my papa just left the house, |
| [01:08.571] |
in search of a killer of my uncle Ray,and she's trying to calm her nerves, |
| [01:13.451] |
as i observe this is just one day, |
| [01:17.281] |
and what tomorrow has in store, |
| [01:18.611] |
we can never be sure,so all we can do is...pray |
| [01:32.611] |
As i head to my home-room, |
| [01:33.731] |
I observe the ruins,dope needles on the ground, |
| [01:37.651] |
i hear a car go vroom, |
| [01:39.91] |
drug dealer in the bm with the top down, |
| [01:41.911] |
as the girls start to giggle, |
| [01:44.91] |
i ask why you laugh?? |
| [01:45.351] |
they say you're to little, |
| [01:47.841] |
one day you'll understand, |
| [01:48.511] |
when you become a man, |
| [01:50.571] |
'bout things you have to get you, |
| [01:52.271] |
fast forward freeze frame, |
| [01:53.61] |
on my pistol fistful of dollars, |
| [01:55.01] |
ignorance is so blessful, |
| [01:56.961] |
I ain't choose this life, |
| [01:58.311] |
this life chose me, |
| [01:59.661] |
around here it's the sh*t, |
| [02:01.21] |
that you just do, |
| [02:02.501] |
i just left school,the same bm is pulled over, |
| [02:05.561] |
by the boys dressed in blue, |
| [02:07.431] |
they had their guns drawn, |
| [02:08.451] |
screaming "just move", |
| [02:09.571] |
or is there something else you suggest we can do?, |
| [02:12.91] |
he made his way to the drunk, |
| [02:13.911] |
opened it like "huh",a treasure chest was removed, |
| [02:17.671] |
cops said he'll be back next month, |
| [02:19.671] |
what we call curpt,he call's payin'dues, |
| [02:23.451] |
now when rules is blurred,as they were, |
| [02:25.891] |
what am i to do but ....pray. |
| [02:28.521] |
pray the lord forgives me, |
| [02:29.911] |
pray he guides me for what i'm 'bout to go through....pray |
| [02:33.591] |
anywhere there's oppression, |
| [02:44.41] |
the drug profession,flourishes like beverages, |
| [02:47.371] |
refreshing,sweet taste of sin, |
| [02:50.231] |
everything i seen made me everything i am, |
| [02:52.741] |
bad drug dealer or victim,i beg, |
| [02:55.231] |
what came first,moving the chickens or the egg?, |
| [02:58.591] |
this is why i be so fresh, |
| [03:00.201] |
i'm trying to beat life,'cause i can't cheat death, |
| [03:03.271] |
treat shame like shamelessness,aim, |
| [03:05.821] |
stainless at anuses, |
| [03:06.651] |
you know the game this is, |
| [03:09.691] |
move coke like pepsi,don't matter what brand name it is, |
| [03:14.11] |
i stand behind mine,everything i do i'm a man behind mine, |
| [03:17.961] |
I'm not an angel,I'm sure, |
| [03:20.641] |
but every night before i lay,I drop my knees to the floor, |
| [03:23.191] |
and I pray. |
