I've Been Up, I've Been Down

[8 seconds instrumental]

[intro:]
G'eah, g'ah!
G'eah, g'eah, g'eah, g'ah!

[verse 1:]
Somebody very dear to me (aaahhh!) just attempted to kill herself;
And showed me we don't fear death. - we fear fear itself!
Ever since - '98 in hip-hop my presence been felt;
Couple of dollars, couple of models, couple of bitch niggas under-my-belt!
Thorough nigga, i'm a hold you to it, if we hand shake;
My - "plan b" is to complete "plan a".
Grindin' been my strategy ('ey!) like this is my anatomy,
I should get? sick; why? - why, whyyy?
Would you let some dollar dictate your army? (aaahhh!)
I brush my shoulders up. - polish off haters!
If you play me, i will spray your potato - layed up with ff-fakeeers, (aaahhh!)
I-put-'em-in-the-news-in-a-major-paper.
My - roller coaster of a career,
Hope it's been real for you, because it's been weird for me! - i feel like...

[chorus:]
They can take away the cars, (whoo!) they can take away the cash, (whoo!)
Yo, i bet you that they can't take the realness, that's in me! (whooo!)
I've been up, - i've been down. - i don't give a fuck! - yeeaah!
I've been up, - i've been down. - i don't give a fuck! - yeeeaaah!
I've been up, - i've been down. - i don't give a fuck!
They can take away the cars, they can take away the cash;
Yo, i bet you that they can't take the realness that's in me!

[verse 2:]
I just want mama to be happy. (mama to be happy!)
Is that too motherfuckin' much to aaaask? (aaaask!)
Damn it! 'bout to cry in this bitch. - king of the jungle,
I hate liars, but i fuck with a lioness bitch! (bitch!)
If you don't straighten your ass out right now
I will find you and iron, you bitch.
Grindin' been my strategy ('ey!) like this is my anatomy,
I should get? to sick; why? - why, whyyy?
Would you let love is make you act like a faggot?
I'm fly! (i'm fly!) - and you act like a maggot! (whooo!)
Money comes, money goes.
I used to wear funny clothes;
Hammer pants. - my mama used-to-wipe-my-runny-nose
My real fam-ily, all i care about is her. - i'm feelin' like... (whooo!)

[chorus]

[verse 3:]
Then i watch my daddy hit my mama.
Listen to my mama tryna calm us, y'all don't understand the problem
That we have. - who-gives-a-shit-about-dollars when you gotta-go-visit your father in rehab?
You said rick ryan marcus long-as-i'm-gettin'-high-your-mama-will be sad.
And only i can fix this; so i'm a-turn-this-all around i promise (i promise!) - as we sat.
He said i'm-down-right-now-in-life-now-and-you-know-i'm a be back!
And-when-he-got-back-home it was like he was heaven sent
Cause i was only 11 at the time and he's been clean and sober ever since. (whoo!)
He gave me this advice. (advice!) - you at a huge advantage;
Long as you know what's rules in life (life!) - and a view for the planet!
Rather you the man, you're the mechanic; people treat money like oxygen
When they got it they take it for granted. (huuuhhh!) - but then lose it and panic!
So spoken, g. - i look at him like superman,
And y'all know niggas ain't even close to me, so if he can fall; so can we! (ooohhh!)

[chorus]