Friends

(Album: Larger Than Life - 1989)

Have you ever been stabbed in the back
By someone you thought was really cool
Did they steal your lover or was it money
Or was it lies they told
Strangers just disguised as your friends
Never again, 'cause now you know

That friends will let you down
Friends won't be around
When you need them most of all, your friends
Friends are hard to find
Friends, yours and mine
I'm talking 'bout your friends

Smiles they hide behind
Never know what's on their mind
Could be true deception
Jealousy and envy reign
They never want to see you get ahead
They just hold you back

Friends will let you down
Friends won't be around
When you need them most of all, your friends
Oh, friends are hard to find
Friends, yours and mine
I'm talking 'bout your friends

[Rakim:]
Friends are hard to find, so be careful
You could be flying an inch or mile if I pay you
But some ain't that bad, but one might back stab
To get the fake tips of what one might have
Bite the hand that feeds you, leave the people who need you
For those who hold you back and mislead you
To be a leader, don't get lead on unleaded
The wrong direction, a dead ends next then so
Heed the detour, life's like a seesaw
The ups and downs, and I'll bet there'll be more
Potholes and obstacles in our path, that's righteous
At times you need a hand to fight this
Way of life, straighten up, take the door to the placid
And don't you act two-faced
'Cause jealousy and envy, and you still act friendly
You could find the end if you pretend to be

Friends will let you down
Friends won't be around
When you need them most of all, your friends
Yeah, friends are hard to find
Friends, yours and mine
I'm talking 'bout your friends

[Rakim:]
Used to kiss me, tell me you missed me
But now you try to glaze me, play me and diss me
I'm wide awake, ready to break, so we argue
What happened to the kisses, and, why, how are you
Forgot about the times when I rhymed you and bathed you
Rings were the only little things that I gave you
Still ain't thankful, your still complaining
Used be a bright sun but now it's raining
Harder than ever, I'm thinking whether
You should be friends let it end is a bad
So you forget to remember your body's so tender
The vibe that I send her make you surrender
The feelings you capture, caught in a rapture
No women can match you so I'm looking at ya
Paint a perfect picture so you can remember me
But you could find the end if you pretend to be

Friends will let you down
Friends wont be around
When you need them most of all, your friends
Oh, friends are hard to find
Friends, yours and mine
I'm talking 'bout your friends...