(Black diamonds and PEARLS)
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[Intro: message continued from interlude]
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"I'm just gonna read you a little bit of ?:
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'I like to start off by saying that prison is truly a living hell
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It is a place where love and compassion are looked upon as weaknesses
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And violence and brutality are worn like a medal of honor
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Prison is a tedious task of survival that could shatter your dreams and ambition
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The California Department of Corrections ISN'T designed
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to help you rehabilitate yourself or even help you
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to become a productive law-abiding citizen'"
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[Chorus: Larry Saunders (Ledisi)]
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(Black diamonds and PEARLS)
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Keep on, keep goin', march on, move on
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Keep blowin' it up
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Keep ON, keep goin', march on, move on
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Stay strong, keep goin', keep, blowin' it up
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(Black diamonds and PEARLS)
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KEEP ON, keep goin', march on, move on
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Keep blowin' it up, yeaaaah
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Blowin' it up, yeaaaaaaah
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[Verse One: Gift of Gab]
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Young leaders, little unsung heroes
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You can run some meters, be a hoop or a track star
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School teacher, scientist, or even
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own your very own street, maybe even be a rap star
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Times witcha, you could change whole pictures
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Make a better situation, for your mother and yo' big mama
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Make dollars, own a ride and a house
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Get it right, use your powers, getting' everything you did want
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Then the youth say, "Look at where I'm at now
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Straight poverty, death is in my backyard
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Dope dealers, get fifty G's a pack
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While my teacher don't really give a damn about a black child!
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And the grown folks say, 'tell the truth', then act fowl
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Say 'no' to drugs, hidin' all they crack vials
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And talk all about peace and love and God
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But then why are we at war, killin' people in Iraq now?"
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[Chorus]
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[Verse Two]
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Young sista had a child, still young herself now
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And it's others all around screamin' turmoil
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Ain't done wit' school, how are you gonna make it now?
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Life is gonna be a little harder for you girl
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Some how, she sees the face of a child
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And on her face is a smile, and now it's brighter up in her world
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And makes her stronger now, she's gotta carry on
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And be a very good mama, this is life, let it unfurl
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And she's doin' it, mother of the earth now
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Found a blessin' in the struggle through her first child
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Kept goin', kept growin', kept flowin'
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Kept strivin', kept knowin' God would make a way somehow
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Live yo' life, girl, show 'em how it's done now
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I believe in you, so keep it movin' 'til the sun's down
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Never let them hold you back from anything you want now
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Life is but a ride, so find the treasures that are unfound
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[Chorus]
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[Verse Three]
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Young brotha, takin' care of his mother
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Makin' bread, gotta hustle, 'cause the table's lookin' thin now
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Stress ridden as he walks his little sister
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to her preschool, which is up the road just a few miles
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Back at the house, his mom seeks magic
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Through the pipe smoke travelin' through her lungs out and back down
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Worst part that breaks the young man's heart
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is he's the one that's supplyin' it, he feels like he's trapped now
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'Cause every time he says, "No", then she'll spaz out
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Start shakin', "Mama, please, where is dad now?!"
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Guess he's gotta be the home's only man now
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Left the life alone and gotta whole other plan now
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Stacked enough to put her in a rehab found
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Work and got a G.E.D., his sister's in his hands now
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And with support from other members in the fam
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Gonna make it out this struggle, young people, here's your chance, come on!
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[Chorus and ad-libs]
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Black diamonds and PEARLS
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Black Diamonds And Pearls
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| Blackalicious |
