Riker's Island

Woah momma, woah poppa

You should have seen your little son

Uh!

The first time the youth, come a New York

Them tell him, "youth, you mustn't skylark"

"Learn a trade, or go to school"

"And don't you turn yourself inna fool"

But now him gone, a Riker's Island

Him never waan go a Riker's Island

Him used to walk and screw up him face

But now him spending 'nuff time up-state

They used to tell him, "understand"

But now dem find him with a M-1

Inna 'im pocket, him have a million

So

Now him gone, a Riker's Island

Him never want go a Riker's Island

But now him gone a Riker's Island

Mmmm, oy

Him used to chuck it, from Brooklyn to Bronx

And a gwan like a big top Ranks

But 'nuff a him government response

Cause

Him gone, a Riker's Island

He never want go a Riker's Island

Now him gone a Riker's Island

He never want go a Riker's Island

No mamma, I wish you were around

To see your youth how him going down

Him used to chuck it, from town to town

Him used to shot people, all around

Uptown, and downtown, and all around

So, now him gone, a Riker's Island

He never want go a Riker's Island

Now him gone, a Riker's Island

He never want go a Riker's Island, Oh no

Him never waan go deh, no

No, no, no, no...mmmm

They used to tell him stop screw up him face

But now 'im spending time somewhere up-state

Dem used to tell him to, "understand"

Inna him pocket, dem find a million

And now dem find him with a M-1

So

Now him gone, a Riker's Island

He never want go a Riker's Island

And now him gone, a Riker's Island

He never want reach a Riker's Island

But oh sister, he wish you were around

To give him food, even change his gown

He used to roam it from town to town

But government have him under cell-bound

Cause

Now him gone, a Riker's Island

He never want go a Riker's Island

But now him gone a Riker's Island

He never want go a Riker's Island

The first time deh youth come a New York

Dem used to tell him youth don't skylark

Learn a trade or go to school

And don't you make no one take you for fool

But now him gone, a Riker's Island

Yes him gone, a Riker's Island

Dem used to chuck it from Brooklyn to Bronx

And a gwan like the most top Ranks

But 'nuff a him government response

'Ca

Yes him gone a Riker's Island

He never want go a Riker's Island

But now him gone a Riker's Island

He shouldn't mix up with di don man

And now him gone a Riker's Island

Mmmmmmm...{fades}