Back in the day they used to call me a criminalRunning from the policeHanging with the homiesGun in my waist, getting high off them chemicalsI was only sixteenKicked out on the streetsMy mama told meIf you wanna make itYou better figure out your life before they take itYeah my mama told meYou gotta get smarterOr you gonna end up in a cell just like your father, mmhAh ooh, Lord knows I try so hardAh ooh, Lord knows I've come so farAh ooh, each time I touch the starsSomething always brings me back to earthAnd I'm back diggin in the dirtAnd I'm back diggin in the dirtI'm coming of ageAnd they call it a miracleI'm alive and breathingThere's gotta be a reason, I'm still hereSo I pick up the paceTryna my make me some money, ohCome up with a scheme nowA dirty or a clean now, yeah'Cause my mama tells meYou better make itIf not for yourself then you should do it for your ladyYeah my mama tells meYou gotta get smarterYou got a son and in a month you'll have a daughter, mmhAh ooh, Lord knows I try so hardAh ooh (yeah), Lord knows I've come so farAh ooh, each time I touch the starsSomething always brings me back to earthAnd I'm back diggin in the dirtAnd I'm back diggin in the dirt