My friend's mother once told me
as they were burying her son
"You've already taken a life, child
now go and save one..."
Six in the evening
and I'm layin' in bed
Tryin' to clear the cobwebs
outta my head
Tryin' to get right
from the night before
"BANG!" "BANG!" "BANGIN!"
on my front door
My homie Tony-Tony
and he looked upset
So I got ready for a night
that I would never forget
I didn't fire the round that put my friend in the ground
but it never would've happened if I wasn't around
Summer-time night
and it was just like any other
I love Tony-Tony
like I love a little brother
He's got a problem
then it's my problem, too
Never know what the streets
are gonna make you do
He says it's no big deal
and he doesn't wanna fight
but somebody, somewhere
is gonna hurt tonight
I didn't fire the round that put my friend in the ground
but it never would've happened if I wasn't around
You know how it goes
you gotta stay true
and I made him do somethin'
that he didn't wanna do
We found out real fast
where they were partyin' at
Rat-a-tat-tat
Sometimes it happens like that
Runnin' out the house
to the echo of a Glock
but Tony-Tony didn't make it
to the end of the block
I didn't fire the round that put my friend in the ground
but it never would've happened if I wasn't around
I look at a picture
hangin' on my wall
of me and Tony-Tony
straight standin' tall
and sometimes I picture
where he'd be
and what he'd be doin'
if it wasn't for me
I know his mother meant
to move up and move on
before my own mama
has to picture me gone