[Intro]
I couldn't help but notice your pain
My pain?
It runs deep; share it with me!
[Verse 1: 2Pac]
They'll never take me alive, I'm gettin' high with my four-five
co*ked on these s**as, time to die
Even as a youngster causin' ruckus on the back of the bus
I was a fool all through high school, kickin' up dust
But now I'm labeled as a troublemaker; who can you blame?
Smokin' weed helped me take away the pain
So I'm hopeless rollin' down the freeway swervin', don't worry
I'm about to crash up on the curb ‘cause my vision's blurry
Maybe if they tried to understand me; what should I do?
I had to feed my f**in' family; what else could I do
But be a thug? Out slangin' with the homies
f** hangin' with them phonies in the club!
Got my mind on danger; never been a stranger to homicide
My city's full of gang bangers and drive bys
Why do we die at an early age?
He was so young but still a victim of the 12 gauge
My memories of a corpse, mind full of sick thoughts
And I ain't goin back to court, so f** what you thought!
I'm drinkin' Hennessey, runnin' from my enemies
Will I live to be 23? There's so much pain
[Hook]
Ohhhh....
Tired of the strain and the pain
Ohhhh....
Tired of the strain and the pain
[Verse 2: Stretch]
Years and years of that rough life
Runnin' crazed and wild as a kid and growin' tough with a knife
And livin' trifed on the regular, buckin' out competitors
See 'em fake a move and chase them down
Like the f**in' Predator
Get in trouble everyday in school, act a fool
And you know I had to break every rule
Showin' off for the b**hes, ‘cause I had the mad rep
So I had to watch my back when it was time to step
But my grimies is the grimiest with love for me
Pop, pop, pop, and send a chuckle up above for me
Ayo, currency kept pa**ing me by, but I didn't cry, broke
Got hit off with the pack and started sellin' coke
And now the money's looking lovely
Pop the drop top and now the b**hes wanna rub me
Kick 'em the game, it's all the same
I kick it back, yo; give 'em slack, yo
And now they label me the mack, yo, people check it
Get disrespected if you front on the Birdman, you heard, man
Catch a couple shots from the Glock in my hand
Damn! At least I'm realistic with my biscuit
You know you get your a** twisted, so run for cover
Me and my man got a plan, kickin' major dust
So if you're on, n***a, look for the gauge to bust
A lot of pressure with the street fame, it's a deep game
And my mama always cryin', yo, there's so much pain
[Hook]
[Verse 3: 2Pac]
They got me mobbin' like I'm loc'ed, ready to get my slug on
And I load my clip and slip my motherf**in' gloves on
I ain't scared to blast on these s**as if they test me
Trust – I got my Glock co*ked, playa, if they press me
Bust – on motherf**ers with a pa**ion
Better duck, ‘cause I ain't looking when I'm blastin'
I'm a nut, and drinkin' Hennessey and gettin' high
On the lookout for my enemies, don't wanna die
Tell me why, ‘cause this stress is gettin' major
A buck 50 across the face with my razor
What can I do but be a thug until I'm dead and gone?
Keep my brain on the game and stay head strong
These sorry ba*tards want to k** me in my sleep
I'm real they cannot see
And everyday is just a struggle, steady thuggin' on the streets
And I'll be ballin', loc, don't let 'em make you worry
Keep swingin' at these s**as till you buried
I was born to raise hell, a n***a from the gutta
Word to mother I'm trapped, I'm kickin' dust up, ready to bust
I'm on the scene, steady muggin' mean until they k** me
I'll be livin this life, I know you feel me; there's so much pain
[Outro]
Ohhh...
Tired of the strain and the pain
Ohhh...
Tired of the strain and the pain
Ohhh...
Tired of the strain and the pain
Ohhh...
Tired of the strain and the pain
Ohhhhhh....