[Intro: Jay-Z]
This here's a ballad for all the fallen soldiers (This ain't music)
I'm 'bout to show you how a hustler's life (This is life man)
And a soldier's life parallel
And the one thing they got in common is a mother's pain
(Forget about music for a second)
Picture a split screen (Forget musicians)
On one side, you got a hustler getting ready for the block
(Human beings)
Other side, you got a soldier getting ready for boot camp
(People, it's life)
They're both at war, stay with us

[Chorus: Marc Dorsey]
Did you ever notice, before you blink
Life goes fast?
So don't you worry, about what you see
It will pass

[Verse 1: Jay-Z]
You lost him mama, the war's calling him
Feel it's his duty to fall in line with all of them
He's a soldier
Rose through the ranks as the head of your household
Now it's time to provide bank, like he's supposed to
Now just remember why he's gone 'til November
It's part of him growing up
His shirt soaks up your tears as he holds ya
Your heart beating so fast, speeding his pulse up
Yeah, I know it sucks, life ain't all rosebuds
A couple of speed bumps, you gotta take your lumps
Off to boot camp, the world's facing terror
Bin Laden been happening in Manhattan
Crack was anthrax back then, back when
Police was Al'Qaeda to black men
While I was out there hustling, sinning with no religion
He was off to war, killing for a living
[Chorus: Marc Dorsey]
Did you ever notice, before you blink
Life goes fast?
So don't you worry, about what you see
It will pass

[Verse 2: Jay-Z]
Days turn to nights, nights turn to years
Years turn to "How the fuck we make it in here?"
My barracks average couple fights a day
Get you locked in a hole, won't see the light of day
And I feel like I'm just writing my life away
I never thought shit could end up quite this way
There's a war going on outside no man is safe from
I'm here for the good fight, only the fakes run
I'm here for the purple heart, if I can't take one
For my team or my siblings, what's my reason for living?
I love my n***as more than anything else
This war's about my family, me needing the wealth
You don't understand how useless as men we felt
'Til you become a five-star general
Shout out to my n***as that's locked in jail
P.O.Ws that's still in the war for real, for real

[Chorus: Marc Dorsey]
Did you ever notice, before you blink
Life goes fast?
So don't you worry, about what you see
It will pass
[Bridge: Pharrell Williams & Jay-Z, Marc Dorsey]
Your baby boy is getting grown
So your baby boy is moving on
(I've gotta chase it) I'm gon' chase it
(And I'm gon' make it, yeah) I'ma make it
Your baby boy is getting grown
So your baby boy is moving on
(I'm gonna make it) I'm gon' make it
(Even if I gotta chase it) You gotta take it
Woo, yeah

[Verse 3: Jay-Z]
Mama say a prayer, your son's becoming a man
This war's taxing to him like Uncle Sam
He ain't gon' always make the right choice, understand
Every choice that he make, he make 'em for his fam
It's death before dishonor
And if he's gone, you should honor his memory
Don't cry, we all gon' die eventually
But if he's locked in the penitentiary, send him some energy
They all winners to me, what's up Emory?

[Chorus: Marc Dorsey]
Did you ever notice, before you blink
Life goes fast?
So don't you worry, about what you see
It will pass
[Outro: DJ Clue?]
Yeah, DJ Clue?, Desert Storm
The Blueprint, Part Two
Time for bonus coverage, c'mon