[Intro: Raphael Saadiq]
Sandra, come back, Sandra
She'd write you a letter, see, she grew up with me

[Chorus: Raphael Saadiq]
I'm leavin' this town (I'm leavin' this town, I'm goin' uptown)
Uh, I'm leavin' this town (I'm leavin' this town, I'm goin' uptown)
I'm leavin' this town (I'm leavin' this town, I'm goin' uptown)
Uh-huh (I'm leavin' this town, I'm goin' uptown)
Check it out

[Verse 1: Raphael Saadiq]
I'm leaving this town, I'm packin' up my bags today
I'm leaving this town, no matter what they tell me
You know why? 'Cause in Oakland, selling dope would kill me
I'm leaving this town 'cause I gotta go
Dance, y'all

[Chorus: Raphael Saadiq]
I'm leavin' this town (I'm leavin' this town) Yeah, yeah (I'm goin' uptown)
I'm packing my bags, baby (I'm leavin' this town) Oh yeah (I'm goin' uptown)
I'm leavin' this town (I'm leavin' this)

[Verse 2: Raphael Saadiq]
I'm leavin' this town 'cause I want no problems
I'm leavin' this town tomorrow night, I'm all packed up
I'm lеavin' this town 'cause I gotta go, the Lord knows
I'm leaving this town to bеcome a star, the Lord knows
I'm leavin' this town to become a star, I'm goin' far
[Bridge: Raphael Saadiq]
I'm leavin', leavin', I'm on my may
I'm leavin', I'm leavin', I'm goin' to stay
Say y'all, I'm leavin' this town for no one knows me better
And no one's gonna treat me like I do now
(And nobody's gonna treat me like I do)
See, nobody wants to hang around and watch my friends kill my friends
See, nobody wants to hang around watch friends kill my friends
My friends, my friends, say y'all

[Chorus: Raphael Saadiq]
I'm leavin' this town (I'm leavin' this town, I'm goin' uptown)
I'm leavin' this town (I'm leavin' this town, I'm goin' uptown)
I'm leavin' this town, yeah (I'm leavin' this town, I'm goin' uptown)

[Interlude: Raphael Saadiq]
See, I got a one-way ticket outta here (I'm leavin' this)
Ah yeah
See, I love my hometown, I'm from Oakland, California
And I love Oakland, and everything I learned from Oakland
I learned how to be street smart
I learned who to hang around and who not to hang around
You know, just to go to school and come home every day was like a mission
You know what I'm sayin'?
So, right now, I could go anywhere in the world and I'm protected by God
But, but you know, I could go to your hood and hang out
I can hang out in Watts, Crenshaw, New York, Harlem, anywhere
Cleveland, New Orleans, any project in the world
I know when you're trying to do something to me
I'll be out on your ass quick
That's from Oakland
Don't get it wrong, I love Oakland, California
Home of the Oakland Raiders, I love Oakland
I love the air in Oakland, I love the people in Oakland
I love the schools in Oakland, I love the musicians in Oakland
I love the preachers in Oakland, I love the teachers in Oakland
I love everybody in Oakland, but see, I just had to leave
But I go back, I go back and talk to the kids
They need me, they need to see me
But right now, one of my idols and one of Tony! Toni! Toné!'s idols
And probably a lot of people I know idols
Is a man that used to sing a group called New Birth
He sung a song called "Wildflower"
He sung so many songs and asked him to sing on my album
And most of the time people don't want this dude to sing on they album
Because when he sings it's no singing after him
But you know, I invited him on my album and he came through one night and he blessed me
So when he walk there, I want y'all to give him a big warm, wealthy applause
'Cause he been doing this way before me, and he's still doing it batter than me
Les, where you at?
[Outro: Leslie Wilson]
How y'all doin'?
If you're really, really, really, reallly doin' good, let me hear you say "Yeah"
If you're really feeling real good, let me hear you say "Hell yeah"
I gotta get away from here
I can't stay any longer, no
The streets don't treat me no good no more, oh no no
I can't keep hangin' and bangin'
And doin' my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my thing
If you know what I'm singing about, let me see you just wave