Didn't take nothing that I didn't need
'Cause they didn't offer classes in what I want to be
They didn't offer manhood responsibility
Had to learn it the hard way, earn my degree in the streets

Graduated from hard knocks, I got my education
And hard knocks cared a little about the situation
Hard knocks, got the bumps and the [bad word] to prove it
Hard knocks

Can't bust through the ceiling without feeling the burn
And I ain't got nothing that I didn't earn
Chasing that dollar, still hitting the books
Studying Donnie and Stevie, I learn to sail the hooks

Talk about those hard knocks, got the bumps and the [bad word] to prove it
Hard knocks, got the rhyme and the reason to choose it
Hard knocks out on the streets
Hard knocks

Had a real good teacher named Mr. Life
Didn't teach no chemistry but he taught me how to fight
Didn't teach biology but I learned it from the birds and the bees
Said stay close to your friends, closer to your enemies

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's right
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah that's right
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, so right

I graduated from hard knocks, I got my education
And hard knocks getting in and out of situations
Hard knocks, got the bumps and the [bad word] to prove it
Hard knocks, oh Lord

Feeling at my soul, all the heads in pain
From my hard knocks
I've got the bumps and the [bad word] to prove it
Deep inside, oh yeah