CHECKIN OUT E

Livin' the big city, not just New York, Baby. it's a place where things are known to Go and down. Where you can learn a lot Of things that you shouldn't know. It's a place where people tell you that you Shouldn't go. All the kids that grow bad end Up in this life 'cause some of turn dead. Mothers cryin' day after day, their child, you know, In a morgue where they're tagged with a toe Tag. They ain't listen, you should go to school And learn. But fast cash earn respect is what They heard. Some stand for days and days on Their ass to make it up to get the Things that you didn't have. Gettin' five for the bounce, some two for seven. But losin' out on your child is what you're Really gettin'. But if that's the way you get Respect, I'm hatin' you. Down the avenue. Livin' in the big city, Big city is where I'm from. Not the slums, but where oil is many more Than none. A young man grows up and then Grows to run with the girls wild. I got a child and he's some. Your poor hits the block, Gets knocked by the cops, gets his whacked. Listenin' to Lou Rawls while lookin' at the blue Walls of a jail cell 'cause he tried being Fair. It's not a hard job keepin' his mouth. See, it's survival in the business. This is your worst nightmare, how I'm tellin' you. Now if your family and friends don't even come To visit. Start stayin' awake twenty-four seven days A week, thinkin' 'bout all the things that you Could keep. Literally, ladies live life lonely, Singin' the blues. And to make matters worse, they Now witness news. From anything to everything that's Under the sun. What's next? A mother usin' her son for sex? Bad lives, battered wives hidin' their black eyes. Cryin' and hopin' it's God's time. So try, there goes another broken family. Unless she gets some temporary insanity. Then there's a single mother, her man deserted her. Two-year-old son grows up to be a mass murderer. There ain't nobody around to set straight. There ain't nothin' he can do but seek out The way. It's sad life to live, so live These truths. Checkin' out the avenue.