How It Is

(album: State Of The World Address - 1994)

Look into the eyes of a madman
You can see it in his face he's a weak and sad man
Staring straight ahead, his eyes are like stone
With a nine millimeter cocked at your dome

No way out it's too late 'cause you're already in it
So what'cha gonna do? You'll be dead in a minute
Thinking slow will get you nowhere fast
A young life terminated with one short blast

You live like that, you die like this
That's how it is!
Living with regret ain't no way to live
That's how it is!
You're dead too soon if the bullet don't miss
That's how it is, yo, that's how it is!

That's what you get for living like this
With a bullet in your head—you're dead you can't miss
Ain't no time for regret when your body's in a bag
Ain't no time to change your mind when your head begins to sag

Should've known better, ain't working for you now
If you'd known better you'd be here somehow
So change your ways before your ways change you
With a hole in your head that you can see through

You're looking up and you're looking down
Shots are ripping out from all around
You're crying out for help but it can't be found
The voice of regret is the only sound

You live like that, you die like this
That's how it is!
Living with regret ain't no way to live
That's how it is!
You're dead too soon if the bullet don't miss
That's how it is, yo, that's how it is!

You live like that, you die like this
That's how it is!
Living with regret ain't no way to live
That's how it is!
You're dead too soon if the bullet don't miss
That's how it is, yo, that's how it is!

You play the game and you pay the price
For hustling in the gutter with the motherfucking street lice
But sooner or later, what goes around comes around
You wind up dead and buried in the hard, cold ground
Dead and buried in the hard, cold ground
Dead and buried in the hard, cold ground

You're looking up and you're looking down
Shots are ripping out from all around
You're crying out for help but it can't be found
The voice of regret is the only sound

You live like that, you die like this
That's how it is!
Living with regret ain't no way to live
That's how it is!
You're dead too soon if the bullet don't miss
That's how it is, yo, that's how it is!

You live like that, you die like this
That's how it is!
Living with regret ain't no way to live
That's how it is!
You're dead too soon if the bullet don't miss
That's how it is, yo, that's how it is!