As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there's nothing left
'Cause I've been blastin' and laughin so long that
Even my ma'ma thinks that my mind is gone
But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it
He 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
But I really hate to trip, but I gotta loc'
As I grow I see myself in the pistol smoke, fool
I'm the kinda G the little homies wanna be like
On my knees in the night
Sayin' prayers in the street light
Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise
Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise
And now why are we, so blind to see
That the ones we've hurt, are you and me
They got the situation, they got me facin'
I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the streets
So I gotta be down with the hood team
Too much television watchin' got me chasin' dreams
I'm an educated fool with money on my mind
Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye
I'm a loc'ed 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-four?
The way things are goin' I don't know
Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the ones we've hurt, are you and me
Now why are we, so blind to see
That the ones we've hurt, are you and me
Power and the money, money and the power
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybody's runnin', but we don't even know
What'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 my life is outta luck, fool
Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise
Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise
Now why are we, so blind to see
That the ones we hurt, are you and me
And now why are we, so blind to see
That the ones we hurt, are you and me