Never Walk Alone

[Chorus: Aretha Franklin] Thought I told you, I'll never let you walk alone Thought I told you, I'll never let you walk alone [Verse 1] Scene one, the opening shot, we pan across prostitution and crime This view through the eyes of a child that seen 365 eight times Pops is scared, the proverbial definition of this latchkey kid His moms works the mall to bring things to the bone Forty-eight hours plus some, she never at home But she light that ass up (Up), catch that ass lying (Lyin') Honey in the water, grilled cheese with the iron Screams with the sirens, the murder scenes It seems his life is just the one block, snares and the gun shots Plays in the shadows, no need for sun block Take the E to Queens last stop, you can come watch Intelligent, clever, however Foot at the bed, bows his head, close his eyes, hands together He prays, "Father, if you're truly the Father No need to bother, where's my father?" [Chorus: Aretha Franklin] Thought I told you, I'll never let you walk alone Thought I told you, I'll never let you walk alone [Verse 2] They lost everything they owned in a home to a fire Moms got fired, told 'em she retired Subtitles read like: "Seven years later" Fast forward, past puberty, the smooth operator On the block, where the gators got more love than haters The youngest local pharmaceutical administrator In the distance walks a young hot potato (Oh shit!) Nah, nah, nah, for real, chill that's my moms! Slide the work to his mans, slipped a fifty in her palm She punched him in the belly, stepped on his feet Slammed the child on the hard concrete Next thing, Father moved from a prayer long forgotten Food in the dumpster where his cell smells rotten Get your hustle on, punch that clock in Where the prostitutes patrol and the streets be watching The father reveals himself to his son but he's coppin' [Chorus: Aretha Franklin] Thought I told you, I'll never let you walk alone Thought I told you, I'll never let you walk alone [Verse 3] Masterfully written, ordained by God as a classical piece Spit it passionately, mimics the clapping of heat Over immaculate beats to capture the beast Verses touch the youth like Catholic priests Strong survivor, we catch hairline fractures at least From a graphic depiction of rapping that's distractin' police (Police) Fuck 'em! Let's go hard! They track your whereabouts through E-ZPass MetroCards Young Black Americans left so scarred Just making it to twenty is a test so hard But, Lord, somehow, some way, if I can I'll be the Soul Train in this American band stand Your Discovery Channel in this world of man-tanning punks Never fake the funk Words travel in [?], busses out of your trunk like Lee Malvo Muhammed, fuck spittin', I'ma vomit! [Chorus: Aretha Franklin] Thought I told you, I'll never let you walk alone Thought I told you, I'll never let you walk alone Thought I told you, I'll never let you walk alone Thought I told you, I'll never let you walk alone