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