Down By The River

I was born by the river (I'm workin' on dyin') In a little tent Oh, and just like the river, I've been runnin' (Oh, huh-uh) Ever since (Ha-ha) It's been a long A long time comin', but I know A change gon' come Oh, yes it will (Uh, yeah) I done been through this It's hard for you to listen to me 'cause you ain't been through shit Shut off my mind and follow my heart, so I took plenty risks How the fuck you hating on me, like God ain't give me this? It was designed for me to fail when I started Long as I'm breathing, gotta exhale, so I'ma win regardless They get depressed 'cause of my success, but I'm the one went the hardest Knew the coach seat would turn to a jet soon as that bitch departed All the dumb shit I did was just a test, 'cause I'm the smartest Now I look back on my life like I wasn't shit but a kid walk in the pitch black with no nightlight All the sneaky shit led later to all the secrets I had Running from death, all the reapers I slid Ducking discreet, I ain't seeing a bid And now I hate to be in my head Lonely, afraid to sleep in my bed Stuck in my thoughts, sinking Had to play dumb when I was young, ain't wanna get caught thinking Facing the ground, can't look at the sun, ain't wanna get caught blinking Watched my circle get knocked off, and now we all shrinking Now I'm always drinking Streets made our heart cold, now we all anemics Blood on that money, it ain't green to me I can barely tell you what you mean to me Nick can't never betray me, I don't even need a team Life a movie, but you can't play me, I don't even need a scene I can't get no help, 'cause I don't need a thing Champion with no belt, never received a ring Gave out too much love, no more love, I ain't feeling loved Gotta go cleanse my body, so many drugs, I can't feel the drugs Drop tears when I get a hug, got too used to niggas getting slugs Start putting my dogs in the wall, got too used to niggas getting dug Six feet, everybody I know six feet All the people I knew That's why hammers getting drew You'll get killed too, try and bitch me You get put on a plate thinking shit sweet You get killed broad day trying to get to me I get up every day trying to get rich as me I got more Cuban links than Mr. T I be stressing though, you be stressing though Then my stress just add on to your stress until we stressing more I was stressing less when I was broke, but it's a blessing though It's so hard for me to shake my past, I learned my lessons though Where I'm trying to go, sometimes I don't even know Mentally, I'm broken, sometimes I don't even show it I be planting seeds, sometimes I don't see them growing I was supposed to leave, gave up and I never spoke it Caught a fed case, then lost my nigga, got me back toting I'm like fuck niggas, but heart so big, it got me wide open Scared to leave my energy with my kids, got me outside rolling Comparing the shit I'm doing with what I did, it got me back smoking What's my destiny? I know it Will I fulfill it? Shit, I'm hoping It's my passion and I know it Tell you I'm thuggin', but I'm coping All this money don't mean nothing Pass out hundreds like they tokens And my future, I can't control it But I be damned if I blow it