What we gon' do right now is go back, way back
Bring in the grooveI wanna dedicate this to those who never made it
From kindergarten to the 12th I never graduated
Yo, but college wasn't for some of us
So we joined the service
I seen a kid get murdered in 'Nam listening to ElvisBut on the out looking in
Things stay the same
But at the same vein
Looking out the whole world's changedSo keep your head up
Don't get caught up in the fast bucks
And find your mom crying while your lying in a black tux
Trust meWe don't need no education says a young man
Sitting in class
(Sitting in class)
School is out 3 o'clock on the dot
He had beef with some kids and he got shot, oh LordTurn on the television
I'm watching Martin Luther King who had a dream, oh
So take this dream and apply it to your life
Even though we know the ghetto's rough
But we got toKeep your head up
(Uh, keep your head up)
'Cause a new day will come
(Uh huh, uh huh)
And look towards the sun
(Look towards the sun)
Even when the darkness shall come(Ooh)
It's real son
(Ooh)
To my people living life it's real sonI turn the page
What's the news today
People getting fired, walking on a wire
Looting on the streets 'cause the kid's gotta eatOh, oh, turn around and look at the hour glass
I gotta get it straight
Before it's too late
'Cause I don't wanna be behind that gatesKeep your head up
(Uh, keep your head up)
Cause a new day will come
(Uh huh, uh huh)
And look towards the sun
Even when the darkness shall comeAll my people in the back
Mama, mama, you know you raised me with no father figure
(Didn't ya)
I wanna take this time to thank you
For giving me life, oh yeahMama, mama, you know you raised me with no father figure
(Didn't ya)
I wanna take this time to thank you
Even though I'm doing life
Alright(Ooh)
It's real son, alright
(Ooh)
Can't flee
(Ooh)
All my people doing time
(Ooh)
People in the back playing cards
(Ooh)
Don't lose your money yeah
Yeah, tell them don't lose your money, c'mon, c'monKeep your head up
(Uh, keep your head up)
'Cause a new day will come
(Uh huh, uh huh)
And look towards the sun
(Look towards the sun)
Even when the darkness shall comeAll my people in the back
Mama, mama, you know you raised me with no father figure
(Didn't ya)
I wanna take this time to thank you
For giving me life, oh yeahMama, mama, you know you raised me with no father figure
(Didn't ya)
I wanna take this time to thank you
Even though I'm doing life
Alright(Ooh)
For my people doing time
(Alright)
(Ooh)
For my people doing time
(Alright)