Keep Ya Head Up

I know you're fed up ladies but keep ya head up
I say the darker the flesh then the deeper the roots
Ooo, child things are gonna get brighter

And even though you're fed up

Say there ain't no hope for the youth and the truth is
And though we had it rough, we always had enough

And suddenly the ghetto didn't seem so tough
'Coz if it did, you couldn't take it and don't blame me
I give a holler to my sisters on welfare
I wonder why we take from our women
I'm still tryin' to hold on to my survivin' friends
I was given this world, I didn't make it
'Coz sista, you don't need him
Daddy's long gone and he left you by ya lonesome
Ooo, child things are gonna get brighter

Tupac cares and don't nobody else care
I try to keep my head up and still keep from gettin' wet up

That will hate the ladies, that make the babies
We ain't meant to survive 'coz it's a setup
When you come around the block, brothas clown a lot
I try and find my friends but they're blowin' in the wind

Got our name from a woman and our game from a woman
Keep ya head up, ooo, child things are gonna get easier
You know it makes me unhappy, what's that
It ain't no hope for the future
Time to heal our women, be real to our women
And since we all came from a woman

So will the real men get up
It seems tha rain'll never let up
Because there's too many things for you to deal with

'Coz ain't nothin' worse than when your son
It's gonna take the man in me to conquer this insanity
You can't complain, you was dealt this
He had me feelin' like black was the thing to be
Thank the Lord for my kids, even if nobody else want 'em
They got money for wars but can't feed the poor
But please don't cry, dry your eyes, never let up
She nearly gave her life to raise me right
Keep ya head up, ooo, child things are gonna get easier
While the rich kids is drivin' Benz
Ooo, child things are gonna get brighter
I know it's kinda rough and you're feelin' all alone

Huh, ya got to keep ya head up
Ooo, child things are gonna get brighter
I think it's time to kill for our women
Forgive but don't forget, girl, keep ya head up
And uhh, to all the ladies havin' babies on their own
You know it's funny when it rains, it pours
And if you fall, stand tall and comeback for more

And uhh, I know they like to beat ya down a lot

Keep ya head up, ooo, child things are gonna get easier
Of how I'd rock the mic and make it to the bright screen
And I ain't tryin' to gas ya up, I just call 'em how I see 'em

Keep ya head up, ooo, child things are gonna get easier
And then they wonder why we crazy

And if we don't, we'll have a race of babies
He has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one

I'm tryin' to make a dollar out of fifteen cents
Last night my buddy lost his whole family
And now my son's gettin' older and older and cold
It's hard to be legit and still pay the rent

Ran with the local crew and had a smoke or two
Aiyyo, I remember Marvin Gaye, used to sing to me
From havin' the world on his shoulders
And it's crazy, it seems it'll never let up
Why we rape our women, do we hate our women?
Hell of a hand without a man, feelin' helpless
Wants to know why his daddy don't love him no mo'
And all I had to give her was my pipe dream
And if he can't learn to love you, you should leave him
When brothas make babies and leave a young mother to be a pappy
I huffed and puffed about my curfew and broke the rules
Ya steady hopin' things don't all down this week
And I realize, momma really paid the price
Some say the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice
And in the end it seems I'm headin' for the pen

And when he tells you, you ain't nothin', don't believe him
Dying inside but outside you're looking fearless

I blame my mother for turning my brother into a crack baby

And since a man can't make one
While tears is rollin' down your cheeks

'Coz I think we can make it, in fact, I'm sure