Gangster's Paradise

[Verse 1] As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I take a look at my life and realize there's nothin' left Cause I've been blastin' and laughin' so long that Even my mama thinks that my mind is gone But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it Me be treated like a punk, you know that's unheard of You better watch how you talkin' and where you walkin' Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk I really hate to trip, but I gotta loc As they croak I see myself in the pistol smoke, fool I'm the kind of G the little homies wanna be like On my knees in the night, sayin' prayers in the street light [Hook: L.V.] We've been spending most our lives Livin' in the Gangsta's Paradise (repeat) We keep spending most our lives Livin' in the Gangsta's Paradise (repeat) [Verse 2] Look at the situation, they got me facin' I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the street So I gotta be down with the hood team Too much television watchin' got me chasin' dreams I'm a educated fool with money on my mind Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye I'm a loc'd out gangsta, set-trippin' banger And my homies is down, so don't arouse my anger, fool Death ain't nothin' but a heartbeat away I'm livin' life do-or-die-a, what can I say? I'm twenty-three now, but will I live to see twenty-fo'? The way things is goin' I don't know [Bridge: L.V.] Tell me why are we so blind to see That the ones we hurt are you and me? [Hook] [Verse 3] Power and the money, money and the power Minute after minute, hour after hour Everybody's runnin', but half of them ain't lookin' It's goin' on in the kitchen, but I don't know what's cookin' They say I 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; that's why I know my life is outta luck, fool [Hook] [Outro: L.V.] Tell me why are we so blind to see That the ones we hurt are you and me? Tell me why are we so blind to see That the ones we hurt are you and me? {*choir sings until the end*}