Gangster's Paradise

As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there's nothin' left
'Cause I've been blastin' and laughin' so long that
Even my mama thinks that my mind is gone
But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it
Me 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

I really hate to trip, but I gotta loc
As they croak 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 spendin' most our lives
Livin' in the gangsta's paradise
Been spendin' most our lives
Livin' in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives
Livin' in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spendin' most our lives
Livin' in the gangsta's paradise

Look at the situation they got me facin'
I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the strict
So I gotta be down with the hood team
Too much television watchin' got me chasin' dreams

I'm a educated fool with money on my mind
Make 11 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 23 now, but will I live to see 24?
The way things is goin' I don't know

Tell me why are we so blind to see (tell me!)
That the ones we hurt are you and me?

Been spendin' most our lives
Livin' in the gangsta's paradise
Been spendin' most our lives
Livin' in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spendin' most our lives
Livin' in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spendin' most our lives
Livin' in the gangsta's paradise

Power and the money, money and the power
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybody's runnin but half of them ain't lookin
It'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, that's why I know my life is outta luck, fool

Been spendin' most our lives
Livin' in the gangsta's paradise
Been spendin' most our lives
Livin' in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spendin' most our lives
Livin' in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spendin' most our lives
Livin' in the gangsta's paradise

Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me?
Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me?