Streets & Prayers

Verse 1:
Grew up in the city, life wasn't pretty,
Hustling on corners, my crew and fifty,
Cold nights, bright lights, dreams of the dough,
Rivals shooting shots, evading five-oh.
Hunger in my belly, ambition in my veins,
Concrete jungle, feeling the chains,
Momma tried to warn me, said there's more out there,
But all I ever knew was this life of despair.
Chorus:
Lost in these streets, heavy burdens I wear,
Every night I lay down, whispering a prayer,
"Lord, if the streets take me 'fore the dawn's break,
Keep my soul, for these mistakes I did make."
Verse 2:
Seen my brothers fall, seen them rise again,
Loyalty's the code, till the very end,
Gangsta's paradise, where we write the rules,
Cash, power, respect; that's the hustle's tools.
Dealing with the deals, trying not to get caught,
Chasing paper, evading the thoughts,
Of a life lost, or a soul sold,
But in the game's grip, man, it's a hard hold.
Chorus:
Lost in these streets, dreams turning to nightmares,
Eyes to the sky, hoping someone up there cares,
"Lord, if this night's the last I partake,
Guide my spirit, my soul please take."
Bridge:
Tales of the hood, not just sorrow and pain,
Moments of joy, love, and gain,
But the shadows lurk, the danger's real,
Every hustler knows, that cold steel feel.
Verse 3:
Diamonds and gold, symbols of the grind,
Every step I take, legacy I leave behind,
Trust's a luxury, betrayal's cheap,
In the world of the wolves, gotta play for keeps.
But in quiet moments, I reflect on the cost,
All the lives lost, all the souls tossed,
To the wind, but I hope for redemption,
A street hustler's confession, no pretension.
Chorus:
Lost in the hustle, surrounded by warfare,
Eyes closed tight, as I say my street prayer,
"Lord, when the sirens sing, and the lights fade,
Remember my heart, not just the path I played."
Outro:
In this urban saga, dreams and despair,
All I ask Lord, is that you hear my prayer,
From these asphalt veins, to the throne up high,
Hear the cries of a gangsta, as I touch the sky.