Still I Rise Lyrics

by 2 Pac

Intro:
Dear Lord. As we down here, struggle for as long as we know.
In search of a paradise to touch (my nigga Johnny J).
Dreams are dreams, and reality seems to be the only place to go.
The only place for us. I know, try to make the best of bad situations.
Seems to be my life's story. Ain't no glory in pain, a soldier's story in vain.
And can't nobody live this life for me. It's a ride y'all, a long hard ride.

[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricenter.com/e17500-2_pac~still_i_rise_lyrics.html ]
Verse 1:
Somebody wake me I'm dreamin?, I started as a seed the semen.
Swimmin? upstream, planted in the womb while screamin?.
On the top, was my pops, my momma screaming stop.
From a single drop, this is what they got.
Not to disrespect my peoples but my poppa was a loser.
Only plan he had for momma was to fuck her and abuse her.
Even as a little seed, I could see his plan for me.
Stranded on welfare, another broken family.
Now what was I to be, a product of this heated passion.
Momma got pregnant, and poppa got a piece of ass.
Look how it began, nobody gave a fuck about me.
Pistol in my hand, this cruel world can do without me.
How can I survive? Got me askin? white Jesus.
Will a nigga live or die, cause the Lord can't see us.
In the deep dark clouds of the projects, ain't no sunshine.
No sunny days and we only played sometimes.
When everybody's sleepin?.
I open my window jump to the streets and get to creepin?.
I can live or die, hope I get some money 'fore I'm gone.
I'm only 19, I'm tryin? to hustle on my own.
On the spot where everybody and they pops tryin? to slang rocks.
I'd rather go to college, but this is where the game stops.
Don't get it wrong cause it's always on, from dusk to dawn.
You can buy rocks glocks or a heroinebong.
You can ask my man Ishmael Reed.
Keep my nine heater all the time this is how we grind.
Meet up at the cemetery then get smoked out, pass the weed nigga.
That Hennessey will keep me keyed nigga.
Everywhere I go niggaz holla at me, "Keep it real G".
And my reply till they kill me.
Act up if you feel me, I was born not to make it but I did.
The tribulations of a ghetto kid, still I rise.

Chorus:
Still I (still I) I rise (I rise)
Please give me to the sky (the sky)
And if (and if) I die (I die)
I don't want you to cry

Verse 2:
I stay sharp as always.
Runnin? ya bricks with blitz, through ya project always.
Dumpin? crews like two's, nigga all day.
Secrets of war prepare me for the worst.
A life that's lavish full of cabbage or a life that's in a hearse.
But now my dreams it seems though, be placin? triple beams and things bro.
Diamond pinkie ring got the loot poppin? out my jeans.

Verse 3:
Now I plan to keep my glock cocked.
If trouble was searchin? for me then why not?
Show em what I'm made of plus raised on, on my block.
Chancellor Ave, where many turn to the street, thugs snatchin? bags.
We out for power, makin? cash it wasn't fast it'll make me mad.
I'm just like, pimp.
My homey on the corner with his gat tucked, in.
Youngest they buckin? somethin? the life he leads.
The life he don't need, don't we all know.
He tryin? to rise up and we just go doe, still he rise.

Verse 4:
Dreams of lost hope.
I hit the strip broke where the fiends get coke.
And still I rise now I float cowards ghost.
Whenever we come around, I'm runnin? down.
Clutchin? a pound, live as sirens, duckin? the sound.
I used to hustle with my moms till the sun came.
My homey Harm doing time from this drug game.
Stolen cars, war scars, born a Outlaw.
Behind bars, go to sleep just to see the stars.
Freedom is ours, though we trapped on a firm block.
Crack heads only ten learn to duck cops.

Verse 5:
In ninety-six my glock's my plastic, passion for blastin? bastards.
No faces for open caskets, peelin? ya cap backwards.
Ya cowards ain't prepared for pistol practice.
I send my missiles through your mattress.
Leavin? holes in your body like a cactus.
While me and my crew be boppin? more greens than topic.
And loot to keep the seams in my motherfuckin? jeans pocket.
Leavin? ya spleen to pick up.
Half of you niggaz is softer than a Snicker.
Let's go to war and see who draw quicker.
And still I rise, and still I rise...

Chorus:
Still I (still I) I rise (I rise)
Please give me to the sky (the sky)
And if (and if) I die (I die)
I don't want you to cry

Chorus:
Still I (still I) I rise (I rise)
Please give me to the sky (the sky)
And if (and if) I die (I die)
I don't want you to cry

Outtro:
Y'all niggaz fake.
All day everyday.
So now I got roller blades, bitch.
Thought you knew .
Your mouth is rich.
C'mon pops, let's go.