| [Intro: MC Lyte] | |
| Dear John | |
| Know this life has been filled with stress and pain | |
| If I could, I would take it all away | |
| All away | |
| [Verse 1: MC Lyte] | |
| I know you gotta feel like your back is pinned against the wall most times | |
| But in those times, you remain open | |
| Closed minds will get you nowhere | |
| Gotta move with no fare, so dear | |
| I salute you | |
| Knowing everything you've been through is just a journey | |
| Every man must take the key | |
| For some it's not to make the same mistakes | |
| And fall victim to the chaos the world creates | |
| In the heat of the moment | |
| You can mistake an ally for an opponent | |
| And wipe your own out | |
| What a waste, and an evasive hate | |
| You discover that it's too late | |
| [Hook: 10Beats] (x2) | |
| What you wanna do | |
| So you wanna be ballers, shot callers | |
| Dippin' in the Benz straight lawless | |
| Or would you rather be fathers to your daughters? | |
| Even though it's getting harder | |
| [Verse 2: Common] | |
| A letter to the better, to better the demonstration | |
| Situation got you wishin' for ventilation | |
| Can't a nigga breathe, trying to find what I believe | |
| It's hard for a tree to grow when father figures leave | |
| Plus I got a seed and my baby mama need | |
| Smoke a little weed to keep my mind free | |
| Only God can judge me, so to him I plead | |
| Fifth in my hand, the myth of a man | |
| That I should know it all and I ain't supposed to fall | |
| Getting locked up and boxed up, protocol | |
| Writings on the wall, fighting for the cause | |
| Read a letter from the world and it said "It's yours" | |
| [Hook] (x2) | |
| [Verse 3: MC Lyte] | |
| Confused with those who say they have your back | |
| I feel your pain, I know you're under attack | |
| To be strong in all things in all ways, just ain't real, so some stray | |
| Lives left in hallways, death's breath is in the air | |
| Let your thirstful life persevere | |
| Someone once said you were chosen | |
| Bus as you gotten older, doors are now closin' | |
| Karma comes around | |
| And all those silly things you did as a grown child are wheelin' down in your direction | |
| But not all hope is lost | |
| Gather your thoughts for the second coming | |
| And I'm guessing you'll be stronger than you've ever been | |
| Ever | |
| [Hook] (x2) |
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