IIIIIIIII didn't know, there'd be troubles along the way Nobody told me nothin, nobody told me nothin, nothin Well, well, ohh, ohhhh, ohhhhhh, oahh-ohhhh Well, ay-heyyy, ay-hey, we-ell Uh-huh, uh-huh-huh, uh-huh-huh, uh-huh-huh I went through, 8 different schools in, 12 different years That's 30 different teachers, over ten thousand different peers And I done fought in e'ryone, been suspended e'rytime Besides a few a felony, done committed e'ry crime But never braggin on, just want you to see me what I done done I'm never proud of it, so I don't have to go back there again And uhh, I used to go like house to house (man) Sleepin on couch to couch (you know) Walk around stickin out my hands, lookin for a handout Only thing I handed out was more bills Only thing pulled me out was my will God told me the sun don't chill Determined to make use of one of these skills Either that or go beat the block Ain't no way you can beat the cops Ain't no way I can beat the clock Just a matter of time shut down your shop Ohh, you stay up day and nights, livin this way of life I was +Young and Restless+ +All My Children+ came and then I had a +Guiding Light+ (hey) No more of that sittin mayne (c'mon) sittin and waitin and thinkin somebody comin to take me up off them streets But now I know.. Nobody told me that the road would be easy, yeah I don't believe, I've made it this far My whole life, man I've been workin so hard and I know Nobody told me that the road would be easy (Whoaaaaaa, that the road) I can't believe, I've made it this far (Whoo, yeahhh) My whole life, man I've been workin so hard and I know I can tell you right now, I'm sayin I could sit here and count on one hand How many people seen me graduate I know a few that did but a bunch that ain't (hey) Same folks showin up in swarms, waitin for me to go on Wantin to see Ali perform, wasn't so po' before I became this household name I was playin them Little League games Nobody curred if I go 0-for-3 Nobody out hurr rootin for me but my Momma Supported me in e'rything, "Why she get e'rything?" Some people got the nerve to ask Y'all can kiss my ass, and that's my Momma Got a sister that need my help (hey) and I gave peace all with wealth Give anything that I have, just to see her in perfect health Now we out hurr complainin, "I got work to do" (ohh) How bad you think you got it, somebody else got it worse than you (hey) I done had them down and ups and, don't plan on comin back down (no) Don't plan on leavin hurr no time soon, but I got too comfortable now Wouldn't have no knowledge of wealth, without no knowledge of self And I'ma keep walkin this road - my mind, body and soul I know Nobody told me that the road would be easy, yeah I don't believe, I've made it this far My whole life, man I've been workin so hard and I know Nobody told me that the road would be easy (Whoaaaaaa, that the road) I can't believe, I've made it this far (Whoo, yeahhh) My whole life, man I've been workin so hard and I know I didn't knowwwww There'd be troubles along the way (I didn't know there'd be troubles) Nobody told me nothin (nobody told me nothin) That would help me to ease my pain (to help ease my pain, yeah) I've been walkin this roooooad, for forever and a day (forever and a day) Now I've been searchin somethin (whoa-ohhh) For someone to help me find my way (somebody help me, find my way) And now I know Nobody told me that the road would be easy, yeah I don't believe, I've made it this far My whole life, man I've been workin so hard and I know Nobody told me that the road would be easy (Whoaaaaaa, that the road) I can't believe, I've made it this far (Whoo, yeahhh) My whole life, man I've been workin so hard and I know