Take A Look Around

I got something I want y'all to do Take a look around Take a look around, take a look around and ask yourself: Why? See all those people on the other side of town, livin large and postin high? Take a look around, see that bum rush to this liquor store? He's all out of Thunderbird, but I got to say more Take a look around as the wealthy and rich Go to plush parties and do-si-do together, ain't that a bitch? Cause they're movin on while most of us sit back complainin Bout, "Ain't nuff opportunities for our people", like it's always rainin But take a look around, cause I see plenty of sunshine in the sky Maybe next time, instead of complainin, you go out and get a piece of the pie Take a look around Take a look around Take a look around as more young people take their eyes off the prize See my man Simon talkin bout he's gonna put a kit And a rag-top on that 560 S-E-C he buys? Take a look around at the music man on the corner playin his sax Fillin the air with jazz He's a one-man symphony, see that 2 dollars in change in his hat? Yo, that's all that brother has This is just a little letter about the situations we live in Take a look around and realize: to succeed we just can't give in Now take a look around Hey brother, take a look around Hey sister, take a look around Now money made is not necesserally money earned But those who earn money seem to have a lot less And not very often are those tables ever turned But then again, money's not a measure of success The power of 3, you see, is ever present Slide and ride this groove, to get the meanin Only a true king can call someone a peasant You hold a microphone, but for a throne I find you fiendin Pursuit of happiness and money are not the same There is some overlap, but they're still separate goals Because it's possible to have one without the other, a shame Some don't realize it, so they sell away their souls Take a look around Take a look around As I walk through Grand Central I see so very many Brothers and sisters that are down on their luck Is there really pie, and they just aren't gettin any? Or is it cause they're lazy and they just don't give a fuck? Walkin through the park I see Bam-Bam playin cee-lo 4-5-6, Bam just lost 3 g's and a kilo Who says they only play for kicks? Take a look around Take a look around I remember Jackie, when Jackie was a hottie Jeans used to fit her like the skin upon a grape Me and every other brother fiended for her body But she's smokin, so now look at her shape Now Mrs Green goes to church like every single Sunday And she had three sons, Ron, Mike and Dale Maybe if she'd done a little bit more than just pray Ron wouldn't be dead, and the other two, they wouldn't be in jail I remember Mr. Tee, he used to walk with a limp He had a wooden leg, y'know, cause he lost it in the war Maybe if this country had made some attempt To take care of their veterans, Mr. Tee, he wouldn'ta have to die poor Take a look around Hey - brothers, sisters Take a look around