Gangsta's Paradise

As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

I take a look at my life and realize there's nothing left

'Cause I've been blasting and laughing so long that

Even mama thinks that my mind is gone

But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it

Bein' treated like a punk, you know that's unheard of

You better watch how you talkin', where you walkin'

Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk

Well, I really hate to trip, but I gotta loc

As they croak, I see myself in the pistol smoke, fool

I'm the kinda G that little homies wanna be like

On my knees in the night, sayin' prayers in the streetlight

Been spendin' most our lives livin' in a gangsta's paradise

Been spendin' most our lives livin' in a gangsta's paradise

Now why are we so blind to see

That the ones we've hurt are you and me?

They got the situation, they got me facin'

I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the streets

I gotta be down with the hood team

Too much television watchin' got me chasin' dreams

I'm an educated fool with money on my mind

Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye

I'm a loped out gangsta, set trippin' banger

And my homies is down, so don't rouse my anger, fool

Death ain't nothin' but a heartbeat away

I'm livin' life, do or die, what can I say?

I'm twenty-three, never will I live to see twenty-four

The way things is goin' I don't know

Tell why are we so blind to see

That the ones we've hurt are you and me?

Now why are we so blind to see

That the ones we've hurt are you and me?

Power and the money, money and the power

Minute after minute, hour after hour

Everybody's runnin', half of them ain't lookin'

What's goin' on in the kitchen, but I know what's cookin'

They say I've got to learn, but nobody's here to teach me

If they can't understand it, how can they reach me?

I guess they can't, I guess they won't

I guess they front, my life is outta luck, fool

Been spendin' most our lives livin' in a gangsta's paradise

Been spendin' most our lives livin' in a gangsta's paradise

Now why are we so blind to see

That the ones we've hurt are you and me?

Now why are we so blind to see

That the ones we've hurt are you and me?