I wish I would have known cause I'd have kissed my momma good-bye
I didn't tell her that I loved her; how much I cared 
Or thank my pops for all the talks and all the wisdom he shared
Unaware I just did what I always do 
Everyday the same routine before I skate off to school 
But who knew that this day wasn't like the rest 
Instead of taking the test I took two to the chest 

Call me blind but I didn't see [bad word] 
And everybody [bad word] 
But I couldn't hear nothin, except 
Gun blast, it happened so fast 
I didn't really know this kid though I sat by him in class 
Maybe this kid was reachin out for love or 
Maybe for a moment he forgot who he was or 
Maybe this kid just wanted to be hugged
Whatever it was I know it's because

We are, we are, [we are] the youth of the nation
We are, we are, [we are] the youth of the nation
We are, we are, [we are] the youth of the nation
We are, we are, [we are] the youth of the nation

Little Suzie, she was only twelve 
She was given the world with every chance to excel 
Hang with the boys and hear the stories they tell 
She might act kinda proud but no respect for herself 

She finds love in all the wrong places 
The same situations just different faces 
Changed up her pace since her daddy left her 
Too bad he never told her she deserved much better

Johnny boy he always played the fool 
He broke all [bad word] so you would think he was cool 
He was never really one of the guys 
No matter how hard he tried 
Often thought of suicide
It's kinda hard when you ain't got no friends 
He put his life to an end they might remember him then
You cross a line and there is no turning back 
He told the world how he felt with the sound of a gat

We are, we are, [we are] the youth of the nation
We are, we are, [we are] the youth of the nation
We are, we are, [we are] the youth of the nation
We are, we are, [we are] the youth of the nation

Who's to blame for the life that tragedies claim
No matter what you say it don't take away the pain 
That I feel inside, I'm tired of all the lies 
Don't nobody know why
It's the blind leadin' the blind
Guess that's the way that the story goes
Will it ever make sense somebody's gotta know
There's gotta be more to life than this
There's got to be more to everything 
I thought exists

We are, we are... the youth of the nation
We are, we are... the youth of the nation
We are, we are [we are, we are] the youth of the nation
We are, we are [we are, we are] the youth of the nation
We are, we are [we are, we are] the youth of the nation [the youth of the nation]
We are, we are [we are, we are] the youth of the nation [the youth of the nation]
We are, we are [we are, we are] the youth of the nation [the youth of the nation]
We are, we are [we are, we are] the youth of the nation [the youth of the nation]
We are [the youth of the nation]
We are [the youth of the nation]
We are [the youth of the nation]
We are...