As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
~#**************#~
I take a look at my life and realize theres nothin left
~#**************#~
‘Cause Ive been blastin and laughin so long that
~#**************#~
Even my mama thinks that my mind is gone
~#**************#~
But I aint never crossed a man that didnt deserve it
~#**************#~
Me be treated like a punk, you know thats unheard of
~#**************#~
You better watch how ya talkin and where you walkin
~#**************#~
Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk
~#**************#~
I really hate to trip, but I gotta loc
~#**************#~
As they croak, I see myself in the pistol smoke, fool
~#**************#~
Im the kinda G the little homies wanna be like
~#**************#~
On my knees in the night sayin prayers in the streetlight
~#**************#~
[Chorus: LV]
~#**************#~
Weve been spendin most their lives livin in the gangstas paradise
~#**************#~
Weve been spendin most their lives livin in the gangstas paradise
~#**************#~
We keep spendin most our lives livin in the gangstas paradise
~#**************#~
We keep spendin most our lives livin in the gangstas paradise
~#**************#~
[Verse 2: Coolio]
~#**************#~
Look at the situation they got me facin
~#**************#~
I cant live a normal life, I was raised by the street
~#**************#~
So I gotta be down with the hood team
~#**************#~
Too much television watchin got me chasin dreams
~#**************#~
Im a educated fool with money on my mind
~#**************#~
Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye
~#**************#~
Im a locd out gangsta, set trippin banger
~#**************#~
And my homies is down, so dont arouse my anger, fool
~#**************#~
Death aint nothin but a heartbeat away
~#**************#~
Im livin life do-or-die, what can I say?
~#**************#~
Im twenty-three now, but will I live to see twenty-four?
~#**************#~
The way things is goin, I dont know
~#**************#~
[Refrain: LV]
~#**************#~
Tell me, why are we so blind to see
~#**************#~
That the ones we hurt are you and me?
~#**************#~
[Chorus: LV]
~#**************#~
Weve been spendin most their lives livin in the gangstas paradise
~#**************#~
Weve been spendin most their lives livin in the gangstas paradise
~#**************#~
We keep spendin most our lives livin in the gangstas paradise
~#**************#~
We keep spendin most our lives livin in the gangstas paradise
~#**************#~
[Verse 3: Coolio]
~#**************#~
Power and the money, money and the power
~#**************#~
Minute after minute, hour after hour
~#**************#~
Everybodys runnin, but half of them aint lookin
~#**************#~
Its goin on in the kitchen, but I dont know whats cookin
~#**************#~
They say I gotta learn, but nobodys here to teach me
~#**************#~
If they cant understand it, how can they reach me?
~#**************#~
I guess they cant, I guess they wont, I guess they front
~#**************#~
Thats why I know my life is out of luck, fool
~#**************#~
[Chorus: LV]
~#**************#~
Weve been spendin most their lives livin in the gangstas paradise
~#**************#~
Weve been spendin most their lives livin in the gangstas paradise
~#**************#~
We keep spendin most our lives livin in the gangstas paradise
~#**************#~
We keep spendin most our lives livin in the gangstas paradise
~#**************#~
[Refrain: LV]
~#**************#~
Tell me, why are we so blind to see
~#**************#~
That the ones we hurt are you and me?
~#**************#~
Tell me, why are we so blind to see
~#**************#~
That the ones we hurt are you and me?