[Verse 1]
They just gave up on our entire generation
So we were all pushed to the side
'Cause we didn't see the world through our teacher's eyes
When all we needed was a little bit of motivation
But because we wore our pants saggin'
Y'all labeled us gangstas and said we wasn't worth the time
There are so many things I never asked you
There are so many things I still don't know, ooh-ooh
There are so many things you never told me
And still so many things that I will never know
And why? 'Cause I went to City High

[Verse 2]
A school with more dropouts than sign-ups at registration, mmm, yeah
And the pregnancy rate is at an all-time high (And we all know why, yeah)
Now, you would think the classroom's the place for mental stimulation, mmm
But it's some brothers outside sellin' that stuff
That'll really stimulate your mind (I'm talkin' 'bout gettin' high)
There are so many things you never showed me
There are too many things you let slip by
(Let 'em slip on, right on by)
How can I face a world that doesn't know me?
(Don't even know me)
A world that doesn't care whether I live or die
And why? 'Cause I go to City High
So...
[Chorus]
We don't need your education
We don't want no pacifier
We are the leaders of your nation
We're gonna make sure the world survives
There ain't no justice, there's just us
What happened to the meaning of "in God we trust"?
So as we get older and our children grow up
We ain't gonna teach them what y'all showed us, mhm

[Verse 3]
There's too many babies dyin' before they're born
(Lord, ain't that the truth)
And too many young ladies cryin' with a daddy in the house
And not a father in the home
(Now y'all know there's a difference)
And what about all these young soldiers being led astray
(By this negative music)
What happened to the Issac Hayes, and the Curtis Mayfields
And all the Marvin Gayes?
Man, we really need 'em today
And there are so many things that needed explaining
But you said it was too late for me to learn (Oh)
You were supposed to be my shelter when it was raining, yeah
But instead you left me out here all alone
So I gotta make it on my own
[Chorus]
We don't need your education
We don't want no pacifier
We are the leaders of your nation
We're gonna make sure the world survives
There ain't no justice, there's just us
What happened to the meaning of "in God we trust"?
So as we get older and our children grow up
We ain't gonna teach them what y'all showed us, mhm

[Interlude]
The people who did believe
What we could do to change our future
You knew the world was in our hands
Help build them stronger so they could withstand
All the pressures, all the war, all the prejudice
When the others were sure we couldn't fight the stress of life
For those of who didn't believe us
Listen to my words for you
Listen to your children sing to you
(Listen to the children sing)

[Chorus]
We don't need your education
We don't want no pacifier
We are the leaders of your nation
We're gonna make sure the world survives
There ain't no justice, there's just us
What happened to the meaning of "in God we trust"?
So as we get older and our children grow up
We ain't gonna teach them what y'all showed us
We don't need your education
We don't want no pacifier
We are the leaders of your nation
We're gonna make sure the world survives
There ain't no justice, there's just us
What happened to the meaning of "in God we trust"?
So as we get older and our children grow up
We ain't gonna teach them what y'all showed us, mhm
[Outro]
Yeah, woo, City High