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Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Alicia Keys
Piano
Davide Rossi
Strings
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Alicia Keys
Songwriter
Sebastian Kole
Songwriter
Davide Rossi
String Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Alicia Keys
Producer
Sebastian Kole
Producer
Ann Mincieli
Recording Engineer
Brendan Morawski
Assistant Engineer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Simple walk to the corner store
Mama never thought she would be gettin' a call from the coroner
Said her son's been gunned down, been gunned down
"Can you come now?"
Tears in her eyes, "Can you calm down?"
"Please, ma'am, can you calm down?"
[PreChorus]
But it rained fire in the city that day
They say
A river of blood in the streets
No love in the streets
And then came silence in the city that day
They say
Just another one gone
And they tell her "move on"
[Chorus]
And she's stuck there, singing
Baby, don't you close your eyes
'Cause this could be our final time
And you know I'm horrible at saying goodbye
And I think of all you coulda done
At least you'll stay forever young
I guess you picked the perfect way to die
Oh, I guess you picked the perfect way to die
[Verse 2]
New job, new city, new her
Bright eyed, you would have been proud if you knew her
Flashing lights in the mirror
Pull over, pull over
A couple nights in detention and it's over
A whole life's over
[PreChorus]
They came marching in the city that day
They say
Carryin' signs in the streets
Cryin' eyes in the streets
But they heard nothing from the city that day
They say
Just another one gone
And the city moved on
[Chorus]
We're stuck here singing
Baby, don't you close your eyes
'Cause this could be our final time
And you know I'm horrible at saying goodbye
I'll think of all you coulda done
At least you'll stay forever young
I guess you picked the perfect way to die
Oh, I guess you picked the perfect way to die
[Bridge]
Another dream lost
Another king and queen lost
Another broken promise they refuse to make right
Oh, another night to live in fear
Oh, another night that you're not here
Another reason to get out there and fight
[Chorus]
But I said baby, don't you close your eyes
'Cause this could be our final time
And you know I'm horrible at saying goodbye
But I'll think of all you coulda done
At least you'll stay forever young
I guess you picked the perfect way to die
Oh, I guess you picked the perfect way
Written by: Alicia Keys, Damien Romel Farmer, Justus Alexander West, Kasseem Dean, Khirye Tyler, Larrance Dopson, S. Kole, Terius Nash