Yo I once knew a man, he started off a boy
His whole damn life he never really been employed
He was only 19 had a chance to go to college
Try out his luck to see if he could gain knowledge
Think about your life or whatever you call it
Now he's just a cluck dead broke alcoholic
Used to keep a picture of his girl in his wallet
Think about your life or whatever you would call it
He walk home late 'cuz the city don't sleep
He was only 19 but the river runs deep
Wrote raps in his head so he didn't really speak
About the crushed up pills that he took in one week
One week turned to 2 2 weeks turned to 4
Now long term addiction knocking at his door
Starting losing weight coming late looking drunk and
His family and friends said he was up to something
Got to the point where he couldn't even function
Calling up his dealer begging give me something
I just got evicted I ain't got nothing
The dealer was a prick his reply was reluctant
I can get you high off the shit no body fuck with
Even all the fiends know better than to touch it
He was 19 begging please give me something
Said to the kid I don't know if you can trust it
But I got a lot so push it to the public
Watch out for the cops and rats on some thug shit
Here's for your protection lending you this pistol
Pretending it was pure but he knew that it was crystal
Looked like shards of glass and I hope this ain't a issue
Plus if you snitch well your mother gonna miss you
Now he's lost his path school and direction
Kicked out his pad after land lord inspection
All he ever had was his rhymes and a dream
Now he's living on the streets at the age of 19
Feel the meth in his lungs and the son starts to tweak
Never saw 21 y'all the river runs deep
Yo I once knew a man he started off a boy
His whole damn life he never really been employed
Until he turned 19 got a job at the college
Working on the radio where he could spread knowledge
He thought about his life and how he wanted to recall it
Still he barley ever had a dollar in his wallet
He quit smoking weed figured that he needed time
So that he could make a difference in other people's lives
Started saving money cleared out his mind
No longer drinking just thinking about his rhymes
He walk home late 'cuz the city don't sleep
He was only 19 but the river runs deep
He walk home late 'cuz the city don't sleep
He was only 19 but the river runs deep
Wrote raps in his head so he didn't really speak
To his homies about the books he read in one week
One week turned to two, two weeks turned to four
Plus on the side labels knocking at his door
Started gaining fame he be gone away for months and
Family and friends said isn't he something
Worked at the food back a block from the Ave
Where this guy smoked meth and kept rocks from a bag
Told the kid he was grateful that he was helping out
'Cuz he knew first hand he could have gone another route
The river runs deep kid please hold on
The people that we meet the only thing to keep us strong
He could have been selfish could have lost it all
Instead he graduated early no adderall
Called up his producer the one that he trusted
Said to the homie yo please give me something
This guy was a dick his replay was reluctant
Now he gotta find some new beats he could fuck with
I could make you rich if you switch to this club shit
He was 19 begging please give me something
Gave the kid gimmicks said push it to the public
Pretended it was pure but he knew it was corrupted
You have to go solo we hope this ain't a issue
Family and friends leave behind they won't miss you
This guy was a douchebag he hung up the call
Started self-promoting thinking really fuck them all
Recording every day then he posted on his blog
Freestyle clear spitting through the fog
Best decision that he made quitting beer twisting logs
Now he live with no fear said he listen to the gods
'Cuz all he ever had was his rhymes and a dream
Now he's getting signed to Sony at the age of 19
First west coast tour then the whole U.S
Now everywhere he go new girl new dress
Sold out shows now money ain't a stress
He was only 19 some would say he was the best
Getting underground respect now the same labels calling
Offering him check to put money in his wallet
Think about your life or whatever you call it
Remember when he used to think he'd be an alcoholic
Still barely ever had a dollar in his wallet
Battled with addiction and almost left college
But held himself together so that he could spread knowledge
Think about your life or whatever you call it
There once was a time when the sun felt weak
Now he's king at 21 y'all the river runs deep
Then one day the kid came back
To the city of Seattle where he learned how to rap
Said fame is a battle and the game is a trap
Back to his neighborhood where he would get dap
Saw this man in the shadows with his head in his lap
Limbs lay lifeless wasn't just a nap
His eyes wasn't open holes in his teeth
Pipe on the ground blood cold on the street
Tried not to look tried to listen to the beat
But this man sat dying in the middle of the street
Reached in his pocket to pull out his wallet
Like he could save his life or whatever you would call it
He turned to the man to offer him his help
Looked him in the eyes and realized it was himself
Torn up cloths no shoes on his feet
It was getting late but the city don't sleep
The man started shaking the sun starts to tweak
Lying in the gutter in the mother fucking street
He turned to the kid as his body lay week
And whispered as he died kid the river runs deep
The story of my life 'cuz both of them were me
Thinking to myself yo who I wanna be
He turned to the kid as his body lay week
And whispered as he died kid the river runs deep