[Jay-Z]
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This here's a ballad for all the fallen soldiers
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I'ma bout 'ta show you how a hustlers life (this is life man)
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and a soldier's life, parallel
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And the one thing they got in common is pain (forget about me for a second)
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Picture split screen
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On one side we got a hustler getting ready for the block (human beings)
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Other side you got the soldier getting ready for bootcamp (soldiers)
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They're both at war (this is life)
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Stay with us
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[Chorus]
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Did you ever notice, before you think, life goes fast
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So don't you worry, about what you see, it will pass
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[Verse 1]
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You lost him mama, the wars calling him
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Feel its his duty to fall in line with all of them
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He's a soldier
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Rose through the ranks as the head of your house hold
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Now its time to provide bank
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Like he's supposed tah
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Now just remember while he's going to November
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Theres part of him growing up
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His shirts soaks up your tears as he holds yah
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Your heart beatin so fast speeding his pulse up
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Yeah i know it sucks, Life aint a rose bud
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A couple of speed bumps
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You gotta take your lumps
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Off to Bootcamp, the worlds facing terror
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Bin Laden been happenin in Manhatten
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Crack was anthrax back then, back when
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Police was Al'Qaeda to black men
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While I was out there hustling sinning with no religion
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He was off the wall killing for a living
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[Chorus]
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[Verse 2]
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Days turn to nights, nights turn to years
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Years turn to "how the fuck we make it in here?"
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My barracks average couple fights a day
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Get you locked in a hole wont see the light of day
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And I feel like I'm just writing my life away
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I never thought shit could end up quite this way
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There's a war going on outside no man is safe from
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I'm here for the good fight only the fakes run
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I'm here for the purple heart, if I cant take one
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For my team or my siblings whats my reason for living?
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I love my niggas more then anything else
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This war's about my family, me needin the wealth
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You dont understand how useless as men we felt
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Till you become a 5 star general
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Shout out to my niggas that's locked in jail
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P.O.W.'s thats still in the war for real
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[Chorus]
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Your baby boy is getting grown
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So your baby boy is moving on
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I've gotta chase (gotta chase it)
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If I'm gonna make it (gonna make it)
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Your baby boy is getting grown
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So your baby boy is moving on
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I'm gonna make it
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Even if I gotta take it (gotta take it)
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[Verse 3]
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Mama said pray your sons becoming a man
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This wars taxin to 'em like Uncle Sam
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He ain't gonna always make the right choice, understand
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Every choice that he make he makes it for his fam
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It's death before dishonour
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And if hes gone you should honor his memory
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Dont cry we all gonna die eventually
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But if he's locked in the penetentiary send him some energy
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They all winners to me
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(What's up kid?)
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[Chorus]
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-----------------
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A Ballad For The Fallen Soldier
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Jay-Z |