Left the city, my mama, she said [bad word] back home.
These kids round killing each other, they lost their minds, they gone.
They quitting school, making babies, and can barely read,
Some gone on to their fall,
Lord have mercy on them.

1,2,3,4, your cousin's here round here selling dope,
While they daddy, your uncle, is working round, [bad word] out.
Babies with babies, and they just keep burning,
While their dreams go down the drain now.

(While their dreams go down the drain now)
Are we really living, or just walking dead now
(Are we walking dead now?)
Or dreaming of the hopes riding in the wings of angels

The way we live, the way we die,
What a tragedy, I'm so terrified.
Daydreamers please wake up,
We can't sleep no more.

Love, don't make no sense,
Ask your neighbor,
The winds have changed, it seems,
That they've abandoned us.
The [bad word] hurts, and so does yesterday
What good is love, if it burns bright explosion flames

(I thought every living thing had love, but are)
Are we really living, or just walking dead now.
(Are we walking dead now?)
Or dreaming of the hopes round in the wings of angels.

The way we live, the way we die,
What a tragedy, I'm so terrified.
Daydreamers please wake up,
We can't sleep no more.

I've seen them shooting up funerals in their Sunday clothes (Ya!)
And spending money on spinners, but won't pay college funds (Ya!)
And all you gangers and bangers,
Rolling dice and taking lives in a smoky dark
Lord have mercy on them (Ya!)

Teacher, teacher, please reach those girls in them videos (Live your life)
The little girl's just broke, and Queens's confusing bling for soul.
Danger, there's danger,
When you take off your clothes,
All your dreams go down the drain, girl.

Are we really living, or just walking dead now
Or dreaming of the hopes round in the wings of angels

The way we live, the way we die
What a tragedy, I'm so terrified
Daydreamers please wake up,
We can't sleep no more.

**Scratching Begins**
Lord have mercy
Have mercy
Have mercy
Lord have mercy
Are really living, or just walking dead now
Have mercy
**Scratching Ends**

We live, then we die,
And we never know, thats why
So young, now we're gone
Now are you gone?

We live, then we die,
But never touch the sky
So young, now we're gone
Now are you gone?

Spoken Section:
5,7,8,2,1.
Its now time for you [bad word] home, my dear.
You've been gone long enough.
Thank you.
We [bad word]  we must go.

Songwriters
JANELLE MONAE ROBINSON, CHARLES JOSEPH, NATHANIEL IRVIN