Hard Times

I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
A drum machine, the old fo'-track and a pack of new tapes
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
Kinda like they hearts was on a full tank, but now they empty
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
And they say I've changed, but like twins I'm just the same
In the middle of 1988, in a corner cafe
Like to hear it? Hear it go, I'm rehearsing, gotta sing my song
Your son was DUI, but my momma made it by
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I never saw him, never needed to see that muh'fucker
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm stickin' and movin', tryin' to get my shit right
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
He left me and my mother stuck down here in this fuckin' gutter
He started tootin' then he graduated to smokin' crack
Losin' my patience, hard times for goodness sake'n
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I know I've done some wrong, but I can't get right
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
It's in my mind and my heart so I'm forever with it
Try to think of others, but I can't get past my own thoughts
But if you looked down from heaven, you'd still be proud of me
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
Knowin' without a household father, things could get crazy
While other blacks was gettin' liberated, boycottin'

My momma in 1967, pickin' cotton
Everybody wanna blame music for they bad kids
But nevertheless, momma was with me through it all
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
Hard times, hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
Poppa never went and jumped the broom, never got that one degree
It's because of my job, mo' money, mo' prob in this dirty game

Trials and tribulations, ruined my concentration
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
This industry fucked up, that's right I said it, and it's fake as ever
I graduated out of nothin', not out of school
I tattooed it on my arm so I can't forget it
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times

You never know how much you miss a person, until they gone
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
Help me to get back up and get my shit tomorrow
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times

Them subconscious, subliminal thoughts, start tickin'
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
As this Valium slowly starts to kick in

My family's been houndin' me, friends they done turned against me
Hard times, hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
My own hard times rolled in like the fog
Usin' these rhymes I've been writin' since in the seventh grade
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
Hard times, hard time
It was just like a piece of pussy, it fucked me long as I stayed
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
We made beats and hung with old heads and stayed out late at night
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times

Keep real niggaz around me, stay "Space Age 4 Eva"
'Cause life is like a big fight
Our team played and had physical sex with minimum wage
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
This whole world around me, diseased, and crumblin'
Do talent shows, fo'-way split the dough, that was our way of life
I might as well, be focusin' on me tryin' to get paid
I didn't shed no tears when you left me but the rest of the family cried

I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
It can't get no harder
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
It was like twelve, thirteen, forteen years I'm thinkin' cool
Babies doin' dope 'cause daddy did it right in front of them
Hard times, hard times
My momma stayed, home full time so she could raise me
Sittin' up in the court talkin' 'bout Eminem made me do what I did
My old man was a player, ain't no hidin' that
Sometimes I listened, sometimes I thought I knew it all

But still I prayed, Lord I'm tryin' now please help me out the water
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times