[Chorus]
I am hoping that my problems never make me change my ways, I been
Dreaming of Paradise, wishing for better days, and I
Know that nothing's promised to remain the way we say, but I
Promise tomorrow will be better than today and I knowwwww, I know, I know, I know
Someone bigger got a greater plan, than where I am, and it shows
And I knowwww, I know
If I die today, my smile will stay, I'll
Let this gravity go

[Verse 1]
Yo, I done seen the world in a couple of ways, but observation got me feelin like I shoulder the load
I mean, it's been a little while since I felt the bliss of ignorance and knowledge seems to me another boulder to hold
& I'm painted as a criminal before I ever speak by many eyes and realize that kids I grew up in church
Beside never will see the things, that they had dreamed to see cuz scenery ain't much from inside of hearse
But all the shoestrings on telephone wires and live news of the night could never change what I knew to to a t
That they could take me out the hood, in a plane, car, train or handcuffs, but they'll never take the hood outta me
And yeah, it sounds cliché, but I prefer cliché to afraid cuz while my people live a life out of fear
I just close my eyes, know my soul flies high, grip the pen so my emotions are what everyone hears

[Chorus]
I am hoping that my problems never make me change my ways I been
Dreaming of Paradise, wishing for better days, and I
Know that nothing's promised to remain the way we say, but I
Promise tomorrow will be better than today and I knowwwww, I know, I know, I know
Someone bigger got a greater plan, than where I am, and it shows

[Bridge]
So imma keep my head up
Even if it seems I should duck
And wear my heart out
Even if it seems I should tuck
Baby let your hair down
Cuz any day above ground's another day to be proud of
Never let the love go
Even when it seems it should break
And let your hope grow
Even when it's hard to relate
Cuz we both know
That the world, it needs, you and me

[Verse 2]
My pops told me that greatness is what awaits me, in spite of the world we knew to be cruel
But even still, he had a fear of things to come when the guns was a running drum cuz he worried if I would make it school
I told him no one ever thought we woulda made it as far as we have
And when I get to California, just promise me, dad
Remember every man and shorty you taught and who came before me, I'm carrying every soul wit me off of the ave!
This for Carter's Barber Shop, Carter and Burt... I know you cutting up in heaven, so pardon the hurt
This for
JMills who was crashing the boards, packing the gyms back in '09, they would have to record
And Elijah, happy belated and Diamond we miss you boy
I know in Heaven that you finally free, and I see
It isn't
My place to be wallowing in defeat
Cuz I seen stories truncated that probably coulda been me
And I'm blessed
Yeah, I'm blessed

I told my mama take a breath, I told my sister we can rest
I love my family to the death, cuz all they wanted was the best