Where I've Been

[Intro]

To all the youth in the world

That think that nobody understands

Well, I understand that

[Chorus]

It's been hard for me

Trying, struggling endlessly

For where I've been is no longer where I'm at

And where I'm going is not where I'm stopping at

It's been hard for me

Trying, struggling endlessly

For where I've been is no longer where I'm at

And where I'm going is not where I'm stopping at

[Verse 1]

I grew up as a seventies baby

Brought up in poverty and sin

Making jokes at the crazy lady

Never cared how she was feeling within

I knew all the words to Michael Jackson's album as a kid

And when it came to the biggest pressure

No, he wasn't my man

At the age of seven years old

A strange thing happened to me

Before I even saw my life had flashed before me

And I've got the marks to show

And it became a thing of beauty

So I gotta let you know that my life and my life

[Chorus]

It's been hard for me (It's been)

Trying, struggling endlessly

For where I've been, that's no longer where I'm at

And where I'm going, that's not where I'm stopping at

It's been hard for me

Trying, struggling endlessly

For where I've been, that's no longer where I'm at

And where I'm going, that's not where I'm stopping at

[Verse 2]

Now mama's working hard all day

And she said this before she left home

"Take care of your little brother

Have the place clean when I get home"

All this priority, me and Tonya had to learn to be grown

But at the time for me it's like grown had seemed so long

Woke up and I'm seventeen

With nothing going for me

Except the fact that I sing

You know it hurts so much

From all the sights that I've seen

From abusing to holding drugs

You probably couldn't take some of the things

That I lived in my life

[Chorus]

It's been hard for me (It's been hard)

Trying, struggling endlessly (I know, I know)

For where I've been, that's no longer where I'm at (I know, I know)

And where I'm going, that's not where I'm stopping at (I understand)

It's been hard for me (I'm wit' you)

Trying, struggling endlessly (I been there)

For where I've been, that's no longer where I'm at

And where I'm going, that's not where I'm stopping at

[Bridge]

It's hard and the street's a jungle

I'm telling you, I'm telling you

Especially with your pretty colors

I'm telling you, I'm telling you

So stay low and keep it humble

I'm telling you, I'm telling you

Black women, hold it down, keep your feet on the ground

Black men, keep searchin' and you'll be found

[Chorus]

It's been hard for me

Trying, struggling endlessly

For where I've been, that's no longer where I'm at

And where I'm going, that's not where I'm stopping at

[Verse 3: Eve]

In this world of continuous bullshit and full clips

Seems all we have to pass on is being useless (Huh)

Broken homes, babies all alone

Parents never there, no food, no clothes to wear

Anger everywhere

Ain't no values being taught, no productive thoughts (Uh-uh)

Jealousy rules the world, take shit at any cost

Gotta change our state of life, make it worth living

God gave me voices to speak, and that's our way of giving

It's so much bigger than the furs and jewels (Come on)

What about encouraging the youth to do well? (Huh)

What about giving back?

What about unifying shit? We all black, get it together

Everybody's got their trials and tribulations (Yeah)

Learn to change the negative to positive situations (Always)

Don't hold the lessons that you've learned (Huh)

Pass it on and accept the blessings that you earn (Come on)

[Chorus]

It's been hard for me

Trying, struggling endlessly

For where I've been, that's no longer where I'm at

And where I'm going, that's not where I'm stopping at

It's been hard for me

Trying, struggling endlessly

For where I've been, that's no longer where I'm at

And where I'm going, that's not where I'm stopping at

It's been hard for me

Trying, struggling endlessly

For where I've been, that's no longer where I'm at

And where I'm going, that's not where I'm stopping at

It's been hard for me

Trying, struggling endlessly