Hard Knocks

Oh yeah Didn't take nothin' that I didn't need 'Cause they didn't offer classes in what I want to be They didn't offer manhood, responsibility Had to learn it the hard way Earn my degree in the streets Graduated from hard knocks I got my education And hard knocks Gettin' in and out of situations Hard knocks Got the bumps and the bruises to prove it Hard knocks Can't bust through the ceiling without feelin' the burn And I ain't got nothin' that I did not earn Chasin' that dollar, still hittin' the books Studying Donnie and Stevie I learned to sail the hooks Talk about those hard knocks Got the bumps and the bruises to prove it Hard knocks Got the right and the reason to choose it Hard knocks I torn the streets Hard knocks Had a real good teacher Named Mr. Life Didn't teach no chemistry But he taught me how to fight Didn't teach biology But I learned it from the birds and the bees Said stay close to your friends Closer to your enemies (Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah) That's right (Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah) That's right I graduated from hard knocks I got my education And hard knocks Gettin' in and out of situations Hard knocks Got the bumps and the bruises to prove it Hard knocks, oh Lord