[Intro: Lauryn Hill]
One day you're gonna understand

[J.Cole]
Can I holla at you?
Let me holla at you!

[Verse 1: J. Cole]
Special, never forget the day I met you
We was destined for each other like a, son to his mother
Or a, sister and brother, man this bond is deep
We go a couple years and don't even speak, but know it's love though
Could never let em' dirty your name I got the utmost respect for you
Came back home and had to check for you
Word round town is you locked down
Some older [bad word] snatched you up gave you a rock now [bad word]  hey could it be, she like "if you was me you wouldn't wait for me
Living fast and wouldn't mash the brakes for me"
Big city slicker [bad word] on a higher track
Bigger now but when she send a letter always write her back
And time revealed, she feels that she settled too soon
While she see me go for mines and she admire that
We speak about time as if we could just buy it back
If only it was that simple, [bad word] I miss you

[Hook]
Can I holla at you
Can I holla at you
Let me holla at you
Yeah I know its been a while, but ain't no better time then now
Can I holla at you
Can I holla at you
Ay, let me holla at you
Yeah I know its been a while, but

[Verse 2: J. Cole]
You betrayed me
The day you played my momma you played me
Can't believe I let you in my heart [bad word] I should've, followed my instincts a stranger in my house
Only five years old but sense danger in my house
I was too young to scrap you but [bad word] if I ain't want to
I'm blowing up fast and I hope these words haunt you
Uh, thirteen years knew you more then my real pops
Put me on to 'Pac, and all the rappers that killed cops
Who would've thought you'd leave my momma high and dry
Last words to a [bad word] [bad word] "why you lie?"
Feeling bitter so these words might seem jumbled
When you left I watched that lady [bad word] I know by now you probably a old man
But I still I feel I won't be satisfied until we throw hands
For all the [bad word] whoppings
Heard you tryna' talk, tell that punk don't call me
You ain't [bad word] and I'm scared [bad word] off on me

[Hook]

[Verse 3: J. Cole]
I heard you on that [bad word] I hope it ain't [bad word] Was hard to holla at you last time I came through
Could barely recognize you, naw [bad word] this ain't you
Cause you ain't lookin' like that [bad word] that I once knew
And plus you act like you don't know me
We was homies, now you call me by my rap name
See me do my thing, you expecting me to act strange
Ain't holla but you on my mind [bad word] I dont forget the good times [bad word] White tee's in the club, jeans baggy as [bad word] Sometimes I look back on my life, that was the happiest stuff
We had potential to be monumental, 'ville mentality
You know that old kill or be killed mentality
I look at where you at now it's a, real fatality
Cause where you supposed to be is on top, close to me
Chasin' hoes like the old days, but now we overseas, dawg
Congratulations on your seed
Yo my [bad word] can I holla at you

[Hook]