Pray (It's a Shame)

[Intro: Joe Budden]

Lord, please continue to guide, direct, and protect my niggas

From the world, and from themselves

[Chorus: Joe Budden, Unknown Vocalist]

Lord, can you please shine that light on your sons?

They sent you a million prayers, you ain't answered near one

Oh, it's a shame, baby baby

It's a shame

I'm down on both knees, Father, talk to 'em please

All you put 'em through is pain, will it ever cease?

Oh, it's a shame, baby baby

What a shame

[Verse 1: Joell Ortiz, Unknown Vocalist]

Yaowa

What up, world? I'm Joell

Sixth floor, project door, broke bell

Only child, no brother, no sis

Mom's runnin' out the door to go sniff

My high water pants don't fit

Afro growin' all wild, no pick, man

Oh, it's a shame, baby baby

Is what my teacher said for class pics

My pops? I don't know where he at

He left one day, he said he'd be back

The stove keep me warm in the winter

I'm tired of Beefaroni for dinner

My grandmom's got a bad liver

I'm just watchin' her fade away

Man, I don't know what else to say

So at the end of every day I pray, I say

[Chorus: Joe Budden, Unknown Vocalist]

Lord, can you please shine that light on your sons?

They sent you a million prayers, you ain't answered near one

Oh, it's a shame, baby baby

It's a shame

I'm down on both knees, Father, talk to 'em please

All you put 'em through is pain, will it ever cease?

Oh, it's a shame, baby baby

What a shame

[Verse 2: Royce Da 5'9", Unknown Vocalist]

What up, world? I'm the shit

I'm headed to Hell in a handbasket

I pop pills, abuse liquor, and kill niggas

When I die, God ain't gon' judge, he gon' deal with us

That's why them reckless quotes come with my drama

My pops put coke-infested cum in my momma

Oh, it's a shame, baby baby

I know, right?

For those nights that I was havin' them seizures

For those mornings that I was havin' trouble breathin', c'mon listen

I was only a fo'-pound baby

So I grew up into grown and went fo'-pound crazy

Daddy was gangsta, mommy was passive

Boxin' gloves for Christmas, I needed classes

My daddy beat our ass, that's probably why we assassins

But he'll do anything for me

Joey, pray for me

[Chorus: Joe Budden, Unknown Vocalist]

Lord, can you please shine that light on your sons?

They sent you a million prayers, you ain't answered near one

Oh, it's a shame, baby baby

It's a shame

I'm down on both knees, Father, talk to 'em please

All you put 'em through is pain, will it ever cease?

Oh, it's a shame, baby baby

What a shame

[Verse 3: Crooked I, Unknown Vocalist]

What up, world? I'm a lost soul

Challengin' the devil standin' at the crossroads

I just shot a dirty snake with my .38

He shot me too, now I'm waitin' at the Pearly Gates

I seen the angel Gabriel and I came real

A lame tried to kill me, so I aim steel

Oh, it's a shame, baby baby

Ask God is that somethin' that he can't feel

I had a six-shot popper and I brought it with me

I put his thinkin' cap somewhere he never thought it would be

I didn't son him, he's a daughter to me

Instead of hangin' with thugs, he's slangin' drugs, shoulda got a college degree

But growin' up in the hood'll leave your mind baffled

We put haters in the past like time travel

That's my murder story, I'm past purgatory

I need prayer though, Joey, put a word in for me

[Chorus: Joe Budden, Unknown Vocalist]

Lord, can you please shine that light on your sons?

They sent you a million prayers, you ain't answered near one

Oh, it's a shame, baby baby

It's a shame

I'm down on both knees, Father, talk to 'em please

All you put 'em through is pain, will it ever cease?

Oh, it's a shame, baby baby

What a shame