(Verse 1)
Yo I once knew a man
He started off a boy
His whole damn life he never really been employed
He was only 19
Had the chance to go to college
Try out his luck, see if he could gain knowledge
Think about your life, or whatever you call it
Now he's just a cluck-dead broke alcoholic
Used to keep a picture of his girl in his wallet
Think about your life, or whatever you call it
He walk home late cause the city don't sleep
He was only 19 but the river runs deep
Wrote raps in his head so he didn't really speak
About the crushed up pills that he took in one week
One week turned to two, two weeks turned to four
Now long term addiction, knocking at his door
Starting losing weight, coming late, looking drunk and
His family and friends said "He was up to something!"
Got to the point where he couldn't even function
Calling up his dealer begging "Please give me something!"
"I just got evicted I ain't got nothin'!"
The dealer was a prick, his reply was reluctant
"I can get you high off this sh** nobody f** with! "
"Even all the fiends know better than to touch it!"
He was 19 begging: "Please give me something!"
Said to the kid: "I don't know if you can trust it"
"But I got a lot so, push it to the public"
"Watch out for the cops and the rats on some thug sh**."
"Here's for your protection, I'm lending you this pistol"
"Pretending it was pure but he knew that it was crystal"
Looked like shards of gla** and "I hope this ain't a issue"
"Plus if you snitch, well your mother gonna miss you."
Now he's lost his path, school and direction
Kicked out his pad after land lord inspection
All he ever had was his rhymes and a dream
Now he's living on the streets at the age of 19
Feel the meth in his lungs, and the sun starts to tweak
Never saw 21, yo the river runs deep
(Verse 2)
Yo I once knew a man
He started off a boy
His whole damn life he never really been employed
Until he turned 19, got a job at the college
Working on the radio where he could spread knowledge
He thought about his life, how he wanted to recall it
Still he barley ever had a dollar in his wallet
He quit smoking weed, figured that he needed time
So that he could make a difference in other peoples' lives
Stared saving money, cleared out his mind
No longer drinking just thinking about his rhymes
Yo he walk home late cause the city don't sleep
He was only 19 but the river runs deep
Yo he walk home late cause the city don't sleep
He was only 19 but the river runs deep
Wrote raps in his head, so he didn't really speak
To his homies about the books that he read in one week
One week turned to two, two weeks turned to four
Plus on the side labels knocking at his door!
Started gaining fame
He'd be gone away for months and
Family and friends said "Well isn't he something!"
Worked at the food bank a block from the Ave
Where this guy smoked meth and kept rocks in a bag
Told the kid he was grateful, that he was helping out
Cause he knew first hand he could have gone another route!
The river runs deep kid, please hold on!
The people that we meet, the only thing that keep us strong
He could have been selfish
Could have lost it all!
Instead he graduated early, no adderall!
Called up his producer, the one that he trusted
Said to the homie: "Yo please give me something!"
This guy was a dick, his reply was reluctant
Now he gotta find some new beats that he can f** with
I could make you rich, if you switch, to this club sh**
He was 19, begging: "Please give me something!"
Gave the kid gimmicks, said "Push it to the public"
Pretended it was pure, but he knew it was corrupted
"You have to go solo, we hope this ain't a issue"
"Your family and friends leave behind, they won't miss you."
This guy was a douchbag!
He hung up the call!
Started self promoting, thinkin' really f** em' all!
Recording every day, then he posted on his blog
Freestyle clear, instead of spitting through the fog!
Best decision that he made: quitting beer, twisted logs
Now he live with no fear, said he listen to the gods
Casue all he ever had was his rhymes and a dream
Now he's getting signed to Sony at the age of 19!
First west coast tour, then the whole U.S
Now, everywhere he go new girl, new dress!
Sold out shows!
Now money ain't a stress
He was only 19, some would say he was the best!
Getting underground respect, now the same labels calling
Offering him checks to put money in his wallet
Think about your life, or whatever you call it
Remember when he used to think he'd be an alcoholic
And still barely ever had a dollar in his wallet
Battle with addiction and almost left college
But held himself together so that he could spread knowledge
Think about your life or whatever you call it
There once was a time when the sun felt weak
Now he's king at 21, yo the river runs deep
(Verse 3)
Then one day
The kid came back
To the city of Seattle where he learned how to rap
Said: "Fame is a battle, and the game is a trap"
Back to his neighborhood where he would get dap
Saw this man in the shadows with his head in his lap
Limbs lay lifeless, wasn't just a nap!
His eyes wasn't open, holes in his teeth
Pipe on the ground, blood cold on the street!
Tried not to look, tried to listen to the beat
But this man sat dying in the middle of the street!
Reached in his pocket, to pull out his wallet
Like he could save his life, or whatever you would call it
He turned to the man
To offer him his help
Looked him in the eyes and realized it was himself
Torn up cloths, no shoes on his feet!
It was getting late, but the city don't sleep!
The man started shaking
The sun starts to tweak
Lying in the gutter in the mother f**ing street!
He turned to the kid as his body lay weak
And whispered as he died: "Kid the river runs deep"
The story of my life, cause both of them were me
Thinking to myself, yo who I wanna be?
He turned to the kid as his body lay weak
And whispered as he died
"Kid the River Runs Deep."