[Intro: 2Pac]
When thugs cry
(When thugs cry, I hear you busters out there talking)
God, forgive us for our sins
(About you thugs living this thug life, thug this and thug that)
This go to my n***a Kato
(Motherfuckers die)
My n***a Mental
(Still wanna be a thug?)
When thugs cry
From all your homeboys
Wild ass place, know what I mean
(wanna cry like thugs cry?)
The world ain't ready for us homie, the world ain't ready

[Verse 1: 2Pac]
Born thuggin', and lovin' the way I came up
Big money clutchin', bustin' while evadin' cocaine busts
My pulse rushin', semi clutchin' into insanity
They shot at my cousin, now we bustin' at they whole family
The coppers wanna see me buried, I ain't worried
I got a line on the D.A. ‘cause I'm fuckin' his secretary
I black out and start cussin', bust 'em and touch 'em all
They panic, and bitches duckin', I rush 'em and fuck 'em all
I'll probably be an old man before I understand
Why I have to live my life with pistols close at hand
Kidnapped my homie's sister, cut her face up bad
They even raped her, so we blazed they pad
Automatic shots rang out, on every block
They puttin' hits out on politicians, even cops
I ain't lyin', they got me sleepin' with my infrared beams
And in my dreams I hear motherfuckers screamin'
What is the meanin' when thugs cry?
[Hook: 2Pac]
Battle scars and closed caskets are multiplied
Motherfuckers die, don't ask why
When thugs cry, we don't shed tears, we shed blood
Do you still wanna be a thug?
When thugs cry!
Battle scars and closed caskets are multiplied
Motherfuckers die, don't ask why
When thugs cry, we don't shed tears, we shed blood
Do you still wanna be a thug?
When thugs cry!

[Verse 2: 2Pac]
Maybe my addiction to friction got me buggin'
Where is the love?, never quit my ambition to thug
Ain't shed a tear since the old school years of elementary
N***as I used to love, enclosed in Penitentiaries
But still, homie, keep it real, how does it feel
To lose your life, over something that you did as a kid?
You all alone, no communication, block on the phone
Don't get along with your pop, and plus your moms is gone
Where did we go wrong? I put my soul in the song
To help us grow in time, but now our minds are gone
We went from brothers and sisters to n***as and bitches
We went from welfare livin' to worldwide riches
But somethin' changed in this dirty game, everything's strange
Lost all my homies over cocaine, mayne
See, they ask me if I shed a tear, I ain't lie
See, you gotta get high or die, ‘cause even thugs cry
[Hook: 2Pac]
Battle scars and closed caskets are multiplied
Motherfuckers die, don't ask why
When thugs cry, we don't shed tears, we shed blood
Do you still wanna be a thug?
When thugs cry!
Battle scars and closed caskets are multiplied
Motherfuckers die, don't ask why
When thugs cry, we don't shed tears, we shed blood
Do you still wanna be a thug?
When thugs cry!

[Verse 3: 2Pac]
Paranoid bitches, illegal adventures
Bustin' motherfuckers with uppercuts, I leave 'em with dentures
‘Cause in my criminal mind, nobody violates the Don
I write your name wit' a piece of paper, now your family's gone
Why perpetrate like you can handle my team?
So merciless in my attack I take command of your dreams
Leavin' motherfuckers drownin' in they own blood
Clownin', takin' pictures later
Laugh 'bout them punk bitches that turned snitches
Regulate my area, the terror I represent
Makin' your people disappear, you wonderin' where they went
Am I cold, or is it just I sold my soul?
Addicted to these streets, never find true peace I'm told
Come take my body, God, don't let me suffer any longer!
Smoke a pound of marijuana, so I know it ain't long
Where is the end to all my misery, is there a close?
I suppose that's why I murder my foes; when thugs cry
[Outro: 2Pac]
I'm makin' all you motherfuckers die
When thugs cry
Gotta get high or die
When thugs cry
I'm makin' all you motherfuckers die
When thugs cry
Do you still wanna be a thug?
When thugs cry

This'll be the the eulogy for every thug n***a
That ever put it down in this motherfucker
Rest in piece my n***a
God bless the dead, fuck the feds
When thugs cry!
I send this out to all my dead homeboys
All the n***as that put it down
May they rest in peace now
All the n***as that watch me from heaven to hell
Hahaha
When thugs cry!
And most definitely, most importantly
Most truly, most dearest
I put this down for Mu grandmother
Rest in peace
God take you, let the angels let you fly
We'll be down here riding' for you, no doubt
I got that n***a
Do you still wanna be a thug?
When thugs cry

Ay Nas, member that shit you said?, I don't know what magazine, you said some shit about how it wasn't no
Nobody sayin' thugs 'till whoever, whoever, whatever
N***a you better really go to the record store and go check out some of the albums we've been puttin' out, motherfucker we've been spittin' this thug shit for awhile now
And I know you been listening cause you've been biting this shit
So, uh recognize and realize
'Fore yo ass get rolled on
When thugs cry