"Where I've Been" lyrics

To all the youth in the world
That think that nobody understands
Well, I understand that

It's been hard for me
Trying, struggling endlessly
For where I've been is no longer where I'm at
And where I'm going is not where I'm stopping at
It's been hard for me
Trying, struggling endlessly
For where I've been is no longer where I'm at
And where I'm going is not where I'm stopping at

I grew up as a seventies baby
Brought up in poverty and sin
Making jokes at the crazy lady
Never cared how she was feeling within
I knew all the words to Michael Jackson's album as a kid
And when it came to the biggest pressure
No, he wasn't my man
At the age of seven years old
A strange thing happened to me
Before I even saw my life had flashed before me
And I've got the marks to show
And it became a thing of beauty
So I gotta let you know that my life and my life

It's been hard for me (It's been)
Trying, struggling endlessly
For where I've been, that's no longer where I'm at
And where I'm going, that's not where I'm stopping at
It's been hard for me
Trying, struggling endlessly
For where I've been, that's no longer where I'm at
And where I'm going, that's not where I'm stopping at

Now mama's working hard all day
And she said this before she left home
"Take care of your little brother
Have the place clean when I get home"
All this priority, me and Tonya had to learn to be grown
But at the time for me it's like grown had seemed so long
Woke up and I'm seventeen
With nothing going for me
Except the fact that I sing
You know it hurts so much
From all the sights that I've seen
From abusing to holding drugs
You probably couldn't take some of the things
That I lived in my life

It's been hard for me (It's been hard)
Trying, struggling endlessly (I know, I know)
For where I've been, that's no longer where I'm at (I know, I know)
And where I'm going, that's not where I'm stopping at (I understand)
It's been hard for me (I'm wit' you)
Trying, struggling endlessly (I been there)
For where I've been, that's no longer where I'm at
And where I'm going, that's not where I'm stopping at

It's hard and the street's a jungle
I'm telling you, I'm telling you
Especially with your pretty colors
I'm telling you, I'm telling you
So stay low and keep it humble
I'm telling you, I'm telling you
Black women, hold it down, keep your feet on the ground
Black men, keep searchin' and you'll be found

It's been hard for me
Trying, struggling endlessly
For where I've been, that's no longer where I'm at
And where I'm going, that's not where I'm stopping at

In this world of continuous bullshit and full clips
Seems all we have to pass on is being useless (Huh)
Broken homes, babies all alone
Parents never there, no food, no clothes to wear
Anger everywhere
Ain't no values being taught, no productive thoughts (Uh-uh)
Jealousy rules the world, take shit at any cost
Gotta change our state of life, make it worth living
God gave me voices to speak, and that's our way of giving
It's so much bigger than the furs and jewels (Come on)
What about encouraging the youth to do well? (Huh)
What about giving back?
What about unifying shit? We all black, get it together
Everybody's got their trials and tribulations (Yeah)
Learn to change the negative to positive situations (Always)
Don't hold the lessons that you've learned (Huh)
Pass it on and accept the blessings that you earn (Come on)

It's been hard for me
Trying, struggling endlessly
For where I've been, that's no longer where I'm at
And where I'm going, that's not where I'm stopping at
It's been hard for me
Trying, struggling endlessly
For where I've been, that's no longer where I'm at
And where I'm going, that's not where I'm stopping at
It's been hard for me
Trying, struggling endlessly
For where I've been, that's no longer where I'm at
And where I'm going, that's not where I'm stopping at
It's been hard for me
Trying, struggling endlessly