When I was young 
My daddy placed me on his knee, said 
'Son, in this life nothing [bad word] for free 
In strife or wealth, you always gotta be an honest man 
And [bad word] yourself and nothing else and no one else' 
The years passed, as they elapsed (yeah) 
I travelled far and wide 
From the greatest cities to the countryside 
And through it all, I still heard his words 
Just guiding me, inspiring me (yeah, yeah, yeah) 

I built up my name (yeah, yeah) 
I built up my pride (yeah) 
I found the wealth and fame 
I had always been denied 
(Something like this) 

Hold up, sip my cup 
Go back to a land that any man can 
Have it all in the palm of the hand 
I'm that half [bad word]  through 
I shine, yo, [bad word] 'n' span 
My days were fine when I had a plan but 
Somehow at the drop of a dime (huh?) 
I came to a land, had the skin of mine (yo) 

I'm the kind that's color blind, 
But why someone tellin' me deep inside 
'N-gga open your little bitty eyes', right 
I realize till now I cry 
Who's that, who's pulling me back 
Attack someone else 
Yo, I'm stuck in a a shack 
Traffic jam, that ghost snatching Pac Man 
Traffic jam, shots out to all man, man 

I built up my name (woo, woo, woo) 
I built up my pride (ha ha ha ha ha) 
I found the wealth and fame yeah 
I had always been denied 
Ooh 

I was the man of the hour 
The one with the power 
Too sweet to be sour 
The women love, and the men admire 
Desire, for power, was the method to my madness 
But badness was slowly but surely taking over me 

Now I got my head up high 
Like Mike said, full of pride 
Don't be shy, 'ey dog, gonna ride cloud nine 
Madness ain't taking over 
..lean against my shoulder 
What's mine is mine, alright 
I see the sign I'll be there in time 
I see the sign I'll be there in time 

I built up my name (what's my name?) 
I built up my pride (yo) 
I found the wealth and fame (yeah) 
I had always been denied (yeah yeah yeah) 

(Life became a con) 
Now it's all gone, time has worn away my shine 
(Life became a blur) 
My robes are all torn, I've got worries on my mind 
(I somehow lost the plot) 
Now it's all gone, time has worn away my shine 
(Like a jaded emperor) 
My robes are all torn, I've got worries on my mind 

(Now it's all gone) 
Now it's all gone, time has worn away my shine 
(Time has worn away my shine) 
My robes are all torn, I've got worries on my mind 
(My robes are all torn) 
Now it's all gone, time has worn away my shine 
(I've got worries on my mind) 
My robes are all torn, I've got worries on my mind