[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
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