In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Uhh,
Hit them with a lil' ghetto gospel
Yeah! Ma Ghetto Gospel!
Ghetto, Ghetto, Ghetto, Ghetto we livin
[verse one]
2-Pac
If I could recelect before my hood dayz
I'd sit and reminisce, nigga and bliss on the good dayz
i stop and stare at the younger, my heart goes to'em
They tested, it was stressed that they under
We never really went threw that coz we was born B.C u n me b4 crack
In our days, things changed
Everyone's ashamed to the youth cuz the truth looks strange
And for me it's reversed, we left them a world that's cursed, and it hurts
cause any day they'll push the button
and yall condemned like Malcolm x and Bobby Hunton, died for nothin
Don't them let me get teary, the world looks dreary
but when you wipe your eyes, see it clearly
there's no need for you to fear me
if you take the time to hear me, maybe you can learn to cheer me
it aint about black or white, cuz we're human
I hope we see the light before its ruined
my ghetto gospel
[chorus]
Akon
Whoever said that this struggle would stop today
a lot of niggas dead or locked away
Teenage Women growing up with aids
Cause thats the life when your
Living in the (ghetto)
Or eating in the (ghetto)
Or sleeping in the (ghetto, ghetto)
Thats the life when your
Living in the (ghetto)
Or eating in the (ghetto)
Or sleeping in the (ghetto, ghetto, ghetto)
[verse two]
2-Pac
Tell me do you see that old lady aint it sad
Living out a bag, but she's glad for the little things she has
And over there there's a lady, crack got her crazy
Guess she's given birth to a baby
I don't trip and let it fade me, from outta the frying pan
We jump into another form of slavery
Even now I keep discouraged
Wonder if they take it all back while I still keep the courage
I refuse to be a role model
I set goals, take control, drink out my own bottle
I make mistakes, I learn from everyone
And when its said and done
I bet this Brotha be a better one
If I'm upset, you don't stress
Never forget, that God hasn't finished with me yet
I feel his hand on my brain
When I write rhymes, I go blind, and let the lord do his thang
But am I less holy
Cuz I choose to puff a blunt and drink a beer with my homies
Before we find world peace
We gotta find peace in that war on the streets
My ghetto gospel
[chorus]
Akon
Whoever said that this struggle would stop today
a lot of niggas dead or locked away
Teenage Women growing up with aids
Cause thats the life when your
Living in the (ghetto)
Or eating in the (ghetto)
Or sleeping in the (ghetto, ghetto)
Thats the life when your
Living in the (ghetto)
Or eating in the (ghetto)
Or sleeping in the (ghetto, ghetto, ghetto)
Akon
Gun shots every night in the (ghetto)
Crooked cops on sight in the (ghetto)
Every day is a fight in the (ghetto)
(oh oh oh oh oh) (ghetto)
Got kids to feed in the (ghetto)
Selling coke and weed in the (ghetto)
Every day somebody bleeding in the (ghetto)
(oh oh oh oh oh) (ghetto)
Cuz thats the life when your
Livin in the (ghetto)
Or livin by the (ghetto)
Or eatin in the (ghetto, ghetto)
Cuz thats the life your
Livin in the (ghetto)
Or sleepin in the (ghetto)
Livin in the (ghetto, ghetto, ghetto)
Hit them with a lil' ghetto gospel
Yeah! Ma Ghetto Gospel!
Ghetto, Ghetto, Ghetto, Ghetto we livin
[verse one]
2-Pac
If I could recelect before my hood dayz
I'd sit and reminisce, nigga and bliss on the good dayz
i stop and stare at the younger, my heart goes to'em
They tested, it was stressed that they under
We never really went threw that coz we was born B.C u n me b4 crack
In our days, things changed
Everyone's ashamed to the youth cuz the truth looks strange
And for me it's reversed, we left them a world that's cursed, and it hurts
cause any day they'll push the button
and yall condemned like Malcolm x and Bobby Hunton, died for nothin
Don't them let me get teary, the world looks dreary
but when you wipe your eyes, see it clearly
there's no need for you to fear me
if you take the time to hear me, maybe you can learn to cheer me
it aint about black or white, cuz we're human
I hope we see the light before its ruined
my ghetto gospel
[chorus]
Akon
Whoever said that this struggle would stop today
a lot of niggas dead or locked away
Teenage Women growing up with aids
Cause thats the life when your
Living in the (ghetto)
Or eating in the (ghetto)
Or sleeping in the (ghetto, ghetto)
Thats the life when your
Living in the (ghetto)
Or eating in the (ghetto)
Or sleeping in the (ghetto, ghetto, ghetto)
[verse two]
2-Pac
Tell me do you see that old lady aint it sad
Living out a bag, but she's glad for the little things she has
And over there there's a lady, crack got her crazy
Guess she's given birth to a baby
I don't trip and let it fade me, from outta the frying pan
We jump into another form of slavery
Even now I keep discouraged
Wonder if they take it all back while I still keep the courage
I refuse to be a role model
I set goals, take control, drink out my own bottle
I make mistakes, I learn from everyone
And when its said and done
I bet this Brotha be a better one
If I'm upset, you don't stress
Never forget, that God hasn't finished with me yet
I feel his hand on my brain
When I write rhymes, I go blind, and let the lord do his thang
But am I less holy
Cuz I choose to puff a blunt and drink a beer with my homies
Before we find world peace
We gotta find peace in that war on the streets
My ghetto gospel
[chorus]
Akon
Whoever said that this struggle would stop today
a lot of niggas dead or locked away
Teenage Women growing up with aids
Cause thats the life when your
Living in the (ghetto)
Or eating in the (ghetto)
Or sleeping in the (ghetto, ghetto)
Thats the life when your
Living in the (ghetto)
Or eating in the (ghetto)
Or sleeping in the (ghetto, ghetto, ghetto)
Akon
Gun shots every night in the (ghetto)
Crooked cops on sight in the (ghetto)
Every day is a fight in the (ghetto)
(oh oh oh oh oh) (ghetto)
Got kids to feed in the (ghetto)
Selling coke and weed in the (ghetto)
Every day somebody bleeding in the (ghetto)
(oh oh oh oh oh) (ghetto)
Cuz thats the life when your
Livin in the (ghetto)
Or livin by the (ghetto)
Or eatin in the (ghetto, ghetto)
Cuz thats the life your
Livin in the (ghetto)
Or sleepin in the (ghetto)
Livin in the (ghetto, ghetto, ghetto)
Lyrics submitted by ButNeverOutgunned
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its alright tupacs version is better!