Yeah man, these folks think
Just 'cause I won some American Idol show
Everything ain't the same
Man you know they see me on TV
Or up in the crib every week
And you think everything is all good
I mean, it really is all good man, keep secure
From hangin' out late in the Elma
To Beverly Hills, California
From heatin' up the leftovers
To becomin' a restaurant owner
From a little block, from a little hood
To the whole world and it's all good
And if ya didn't know
I was a star before the show but if it was
No block, no Ruben
No hood, no Ruben
No boulevards, no Ruben
No corner spots, no Ruben
No stayin' up late nights
Tellin' mama everything gone be alright
And if it was no you
There would be no Ruben
From wearin' my big brother's clothes
To buyin' him a new wardrobe
From listenin' to Fred Hammond
To hangin' out with Fred Hammond
From a little block from a little hood
To the whole world and it's all good
And if ya didn't know
I was a star before the show but if it was
No block, no Ruben
No hood, no Ruben
No boulevards, no Ruben
No corner spots, no Ruben
No stayin' up late nights
Tellin' mama everything gone be alright
And if it was no you
There would be no Ruben
This goes out to the barbershops
The black man's country club
And this goes out to the single mothers
At the laundry mat foldin' the covers
You're my inspiration
And you've been my motivation
And that's why
I had to do this dedication 'cause if it was
No block, no Ruben
No hood, no Ruben
No boulevards, no Ruben
No corner spots, no Ruben
No stayin' up late nights
Tellin' mama everything gone be alright
And if it was no you
There would be no Ruben
No block, no Ruben
No hood and no Ruben
No boulevards, no Ruben
No corner spots, no Ruben
No stayin' up late nights
Tellin' mama everything gone be alright
And if it was no you
There would be no Ruben
Hey Ruben let's take 'em to church
If it wasn't for the block, no Ruben
If it wasn't for the hood, no Ruben
If it wasn't for the boulevards, no Ruben
And and the corner spots, no Ruben
Stayin' up late nights
Tellin' mama everything gone be all right
And if it was for you there would be
There would be, no Ruben
Hey man I don't think they heard you
Ruben let's take them to church
If it wasn't for the block, I said no Ruben
If it wasn't for the hood, no Ruben
If it wasn't for the boulevards, no Ruben
And and the corner spots, no Ruben
Stayin' up late nights
Tellin' mama everything gone be all right
Let it be, let it be, no Ruben