[Produced by J. Dilla]
[Hook]
Can't keep running away
Can't keep running away
Can't keep running away
Can't keep running away
[Verse 1: Fat Lip]
I must admit on some occasions
I went out like a punk and a chump
Or a s**a or something to that effect
Respect I used to never get
Cause all I got was upset
When n***as used to be like
("What's up, fool?! n***a, what's up?!")
And tried to sweat a n***a like the Lip
For no reason at all I can recall n***as throwing Cs in my face
Down the hall I'm kickin' it in the back of the school eating chicken at 3
Wondering, "Why is everybody always pickin' on me?
I tried to talk and tell them, chill, I did nothin' to deserve this
But when it didn't work, I wasn't scared, just real nervous and unprepared
To deal with scrappin' no doubt
My pappy never told me how to knock a n***a out
But now in '95 I must survive as a man on my own
f** around with Fatlip, yes, ya get blown
I'm not tryin' to show no macho is shown
But when it's on, if it's on, then it's on
[Hook]
Can't keep running away
Can't keep running away
Can't keep running away
Can't keep running away
[Verse 2: Slim Kid Tre]
One, two... so listen here...
There comes a time in every man's life
When he's gotta handle sh** up on his own
Can't depend on friends to help you in a squeeze
Please, they got problems of their own
Down for the count on seven chickensh**s don't get to heaven
Til they faced these fears in these fear zones
Used to get jacked back in high school, I played it cool
Just so some real sh** won't get full blown bein' where I'm from
They let the smoke come quicker than an evil redneck
Could lynch a helpless colored figure and
As a victim I invented low-key
Till the keyhole itself got lower than me
So I stood up and let my free form form free
Said I'm gonna get some before they knockin' out me
I don't sweat it, I let the bullsh** blow in the breeze
In other words, just debris
[Hook]
Can't keep running away
Can't keep running away
Can't keep running away
Can't keep running away
[Verse 3: Imani]
It's 1995
And now that I'm older, stress weighs on my shoulders
Heavy as boulders, but I told y'all
Until the day that I die I still
Will be a soldier and that's all I told ya
And that's all I showed ya
And all this calamity is rippin' my sanity
Can it be (that I'm a celebrity
Who's on the brink of insanity?)
Now don't be wishin' of switchin' any positions with me
Cause when you in my position, it ain't never easy
To do any type of maintainin'
Cause all this gamin' and famin' from entertainin'
Is hella strainin' (to the brain and)
But I can't keep runnin' I just gotta keep keen and cunnin'
[Hook]
Can't keep running away
Can't keep running away
Can't keep running away
Can't keep running away