I was the third brother of five Doing whatever I had to do to survive I'm not saying what I did was alright Trying to break out of the ghetto was a day to day fight Been down so long, getting up didn't cross my mind But I knew there was a better way of life that I was just trying to find You don't know what you'll do until you're put under pressure Across 110th Street is a hell of a tester Across 110th Street Pimps trying to catch a woman that's weak Across 110th Street Pushers won't let the junkie go free Across 110th Street Woman trying to catch a trick on the street Across 110th Street You can find it all in the street I got one more thing I'd like to y'all about right now Hey brother, there's a better way out
Snorting that coke, shooting that dope, man you're copping out Take my advice, it's either live or die You've got to be strong, if you want to survive The family on the other side of town Would catch hell without a ghetto around In every city you find the same thing going down Harlem is the capital of every ghetto town Across 110th Street Pimps trying to catch a woman that's weak Across 110th Street Pushers won't let the junkie go free Across 110th Street A woman trying to catch a trick on the street, ooh baby Across 110th Street You can find it all in the street Yes he can, oh Look around you, just look around you Look around you, look around you, uh yeah