When Mama Cries

(album: Turn Off The Radio: The Mixtape Vol. 2: Get Free Or Die Tryin' - 2003)

Why do babies cry?
Cauz they knew they were born in that violent start
And my mama cried, on the day I was born cauz she knew I would die

Aw shit, another young brother hit
They got me doin my dips and loadin my clips
Bloomberg name place like shit on our lips
Projects flippin, niggas is shitting on pigs
It's ain't a war where we live nomore, it's a massacre
Brothers ain't trying to ride, we in the passenger seat
And everybody just tryna eat
But im tryna eat then live get high n get free
Dont tell me im deceivin myself
If thas the case I rather meet reality now
A gun to my face than play fight with police and get shot in the back
So they can dirty my name and sprinkle some crack
Tell me that's not how we gettin down
We have some principals I guess some things is diffrent now
Broken promises we made to my homie's mom
They killed her only son and now she cryin in my arms BE STRONG

Don't cry don't cry don't cry no more
Cauz it won't be long, we will survive
Don't cry don't cry don't cry no more
Cauz it won't be long, we're gonna ride

I cried when Tupac died, it was a Friday
We sat up that whole night, bumping Shawtay
I felt the same way when I lost my cousin Padre
Why so many niggas had to go out the hard way
Nobody knows the reasons we here
We just surviving from day to day
Caught up in the game you have to pay to play
Life is just a series of days that fade away
Everyday the sun rises but nothing changes

I feel the sadness, I'm tryna console his family
And tell his mama that her son is still standin
I know he left you a life that's full of pressure
But in me you'll find a piece of his spirit
And as children, the block was our prison
We couldn't escape the bid that we was given
Learnin lessons, searchin for directions
Clinging to the truth, poverty kept us desperate
With steady grind and with our minds on survival
Had plans to build a fam without dope or violence
But in a second, niggas is left breathless
We as caught in this storm, being born as a black men
And life is tragic, my nigga's in his casket
They got me loadin clips ready to bust a cracker
I can't replace him, but I'm here to help you face it
Consider me your son, 'till it's my time to face death

Don't cry (don't Mama) don't cry (don't you cry) don't cry no more
Cauz it won't be long, (You know that we will survive) we will survive
Don't cry (don't Mama) don't cry (don't you cry) don't cry no more
Cauz it won't be long, (You know that we're gonna ride) we're gonna ride

Mama hold your head up high
Cauz it wont be long, (You gotta be strong) we're gonna ride
Mama hold your head up high
It won't be long, (It won't be long) we're gonna ride

Bang for change, Make the change
That's on everything
It's on for life