Hard Times

[Chorus: Carl Thomas] I'm tryin to make it through these hard times (hard, times) I'm tryin to make it through these hard times I'm tryin to make it through these hard times (hard, times) I'm tryin to make it through these hard times I'm tryin to make it through these hard times (hard, times) I'm tryin to make it through these hard times I'm tryin to make it through these hard times (hard, times) Hard times (hard), hard times (hard) [Verse One: Ludacris] You never know how much you miss a person, until they gone Like to hear it? Hear it go, I'm rehearsing, gotta sing my song I know I've done some wrong, but I can't get right Cause life is like a big fight I'm stickin-and-movin, tryin to get my shit right My family's been houndin me, friends they done turned against me Kinda like they hearts was on a full tank, but now they empty And they say I've changed, but like twins I'm just the same It's because of my job, mo' money mo' prob in this dirty game This industry FUCKED UP That's right I said it, and it's fake as ever Keep real niggas around me, stay Space Age 4 Eva Po-ppa never went and jumped the broom, never got that one degree But if you looked down from heaven, you'd still be proud of me Your son was DUI, but my momma made it by I didn't shed no tears when you left me But the rest of the family cried Trials and tribulations, ruined my concentration Losin my patience, hard times for goodness sake'n [Chorus: Carl Thomas] I'm tryin to make it through these hard times (hard, times) I'm tryin to make it through these hard times I'm tryin to make it through these hard times (hard, times) I'm tryin to make it through these hard times I'm tryin to make it through these hard times (hard, times) I'm tryin to make it through these hard times I'm tryin to make it through these hard times (hard, times) Hard times (hard), hard times (hard) [Verse Two: 8Ball] As this Valium slowly starts to kick in Them subconcious, subliminal thoughts, start tickin This whole world around me, diseased, and crumblin Babies doin dope cause daddy did it right in front of them Everybody wanna blame music for they bad kids Sittin up in the court talkin 'bout "Eminem made me do what I did" My own hard times rolled in like the fog Try to think of others, but I can't get past my own thoughts My momma, in 1967, pickin cotton While other blacks was gettin liberated, boycottin My old man was a player, ain't no hidin that He started tootin then he graduated to smokin crack I never saw him, never needed to see that muh'fucker He left me and my mother stuck down here in this fuckin gutter I tattooed it on my arm so I can't forget it It's in my mind and my heart, so I'm forever with it [Chorus: Carl Thomas] I'm tryin to make it through these hard times (hard, times) I'm tryin to make it through these hard times I'm tryin to make it through these hard times (hard, times) I'm tryin to make it through these hard times I'm tryin to make it through these hard times (hard, times) I'm tryin to make it through these hard times I'm tryin to make it through these hard times (hard, times) Hard times (hard), hard times (hard) [Verse Three: MJG] A drum machine, the old fo'-track, and a pack of new tapes In the middle of, 1988, in a corner cafe We made beats, and hung with old heads, and stayed out late at night Do talent shows, fo'-way split the dough, that was our way of life My momma stayed home full-time so she could raise me Knowin without a household father, things could get crazy Sometimes I listened, sometimes I thought I knew it all But nevertheless, Momma was with me through it all I graduated out of nothin, not out of school It was like, 12, 13, 14 years I'm thinkin cool I might as well be focusin on me tryin to get paid Usin these rhymes I've been writin since in the 7th grade Our team played and had physical sex with minimum wage It was just like a piece of pussy It fucked me long as I stayed But still I prayed, Lord I'm drownin, please help me out the water It can't get no harder Help me to get back up and get my shit tomorrow [Chorus: Carl Thomas] I'm tryin to make it through these hard times (hard, times) I'm tryin to make it through these hard times I'm tryin to make it through these hard times (hard, times) I'm tryin to make it through these hard times I'm tryin to make it through these hard times (hard, times) I'm tryin to make it through these hard times I'm tryin to make it through these hard times (hard, times) Hard times (hard), hard times (hard)