I ain't goin back again to that state of mind
Where I was ignorant and it was war time
And I thought I could save all of us
If I wrote one line yaknow the right line

And gettin by wasn't gettin by we had to steal
And lie and some of us died
We were on borrowed time and the clock was tickin
And they're lookin at me and the move was mine

Fuck it just tellem the truth
Tellem no man can take nothin from you
Tellem your skin is too thick and youll die about this
They dont possess the spirit you do

Tellem your city is countin on you
If you go home with nothin theyll probably kill you
And this ain't life or death for them
Close your eyes and count to ten

Honestly this is as honest as ive been
So I'll try speaking to the public like were friends
Truthfully I wish the very best for men
But you think freedom is money well money has an end
I ain't goin back again

I ain't goin back again to that dope house
Where we slept together cuz it was cold out
We had one jacket amongst all of us
So we would take turns when we would go out
And the open oven heated the whole house
And the mattress on the kitchen floor
With an ak 47 and 3 hand guns
But we swore we needed more
Cuz we were at war
Where wed haul water by the bucket back to our home
And wed heat the water and wed talk for hours
Cuz we didn't have no phones
And wed dream together about a better life
And houses and cars and clothes
And wed laugh and joke as we all showered
From the same pan on the stove

Fuck it just tellem the truth
Tellem no man can take nothin from you
Tellem your skin is too thick and youll die about this
They dont possess the spirit you do
After all the shit weve been through
Id kill myself before I turn on you
And this ain't life or death for them
Close your eyes and count to ten

I ain't goin back again to the time we thought
That a record deal could save us
Where we were unapproachable
And desperate and we were dangerous
Where our city would love us
And think highly of us not hate us
Cuz it didn't change a thing
I’m still David
I’m still king