Oh yeah

Didn't take nothin' that I didn't need
'Cause they didn't offer classes in what I want to be
They didn't offer manhood, responsibility
Had to learn it the hard way
Earn my degree in the streets

Graduated from hard knocks
I got my education
And hard knocks
Gettin' in and out of situations
Hard knocks
Got the bumps and the bruises to prove it
Hard knocks

Can't bust through the ceiling without feelin' the burn
And I ain't got nothin' that I did not earn
Chasin' that dollar, still hittin' the books
Studying Donnie and Stevie
I learned to sail the hooks

Talk about those hard knocks
Got the bumps and the bruises to prove it
Hard knocks
Got the right and the reason to choose it
Hard knocks
I torn the streets
Hard knocks
Had a real good teacher
Named Mr. Life
Didn't teach no chemistry
But he taught me how to fight

Didn't teach biology
But I learned it from the birds and the bees
Said stay close to your friends
Closer to your enemies

(Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)
That's right
(Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)
That's right

I graduated from hard knocks
I got my education
And hard knocks
Gettin' in and out of situations
Hard knocks
Got the bumps and the bruises to prove it
Hard knocks, oh Lord