Nas - I Know I Can lyrics
I know I can
Be what I wanna be
If I work hard at it
I'll be where I wanna be
I know I can
I know I can
Be what I wanna be
Be what I wanna be
If I work hard at it
I'll be where I wanna be
I'll be where I wanna be
Verse 1:
Be be
Boys and girls listen up
You can be anything in the world
In God we trust
An architect, doctor, maybe an actress
But nothing comes easy it takes much practice
Like, I met a woman who's becomin a star
She was very beautiful
Leavin people in awe
Singin songs Leena Hawn
But the younger version
Hung with the wrong person
Got her strung on the
Sniffin up drugs all in the nose
Could have died so young
Now looks ugly and old
No fun cuz now when she reaches for hugs
People hold their ground
Cuz she smells of corrosion and death
Watch the company you keep
And the crowd you bring
Cuz they came to do drugs and you came to sing
So if you gonna be the best
I'ma tell you how
Put your hands in the air and take a bow
Chorus:
I know I can
I know I can
Be what I wanna be
Be what I wanna be
If I work hard at it
I'll be where I wanna be
I'll be where I wanna be
I know I can
I know I can
Be what I wanna be
Be what I wanna be
If I work hard at it
I'll be where I wanna be
I'll be where I wanna be
Verse 2:
Be be
Boys and girls listen again
This is for grown-lookin girls
Who only 10
The ones who watch videos and do what they see
As cute as can be
Up in the club with fake ID's
Careful
Fore you meet a man with HIV
You can host a T.V. like Oprah Winfrey
Whatever you decide
Be careful some men be rapists
So act your age
Don't pretend to be older than you are
Give yourself time to grow
You thinkin he can give you wealth
But so young boys you can use a lotta help you know
You thinkin life's all about smokin * and ice
You don't wanna be my age and can't read and write
Beggin different women for a place to sleep at night
Smart boys turn em in and do whatever they wish
If you believe you can achieve
Then say it like this
Chorus:
I know I can
I know I can
Be what I wanna be
Be what I wanna be
If I work hard at it
I'll be where I wanna be
I'll be where I wanna be
I know I can
I know I can
Be what I wanna be
Be what I wanna be
If I work hard at it
I'll be where I wanna be
I'll be where I wanna be
Verse 3:
Be be
Fore we came to this country
We were kings and queens
Never porch monkeys
There was empires and
Africa called Kush
Timbuktu where every race came to get books
To learn from black teachers
Who taught Greeks and Romans
Asian, Arabs and gave them gold
When gold was converted to money it all changed
Money then became empowerment for Europeans
The Persian military invaded
They heard about the gold, the teachings, and everything sacred
Africa was almost robbed naked
Slavery was money
So they began makin slave ships
Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went
He was shocked at the moutains with black faces
Shot up their nose to impose what basically
Still goes on today you see
If the truth is told the youth can grow
Can learn to survive until they gain control
Nobody says you hafta be gangstas
Read more learn more change the globe
Ghetto children do your thing
Hold your head up little man
Your a king
Young princess when you
Get your wedding ring
Your man is sayin "She's my queeeen"
Chorus:
I know I can
I know I can
Be what I wanna be
Be what I wanna be
If I work hard at it
I'll be where I wanna be
I'll be where I wanna be
I know I can
I know I can
Be what I wanna be
Be what I wanna be
If I work hard at it
I'll be where I wanna be
I'll be where I wanna be
Save the music ya'll
Save the music ya'll
Save the music ya'll
Save the music ya'll
Save the music