This Ain't Livin' - Layzie Bone

Yeah, what's happening my peoples 
That's how we're struggling 
Yeah, I know it's hard out here man 
But ain't nobody said it was gonna be easy 
You know what I mean? 
Together we stand 
That's how we're struggling 
Divided we fall 
What's happenin ya'll? 
What's crackin? 

Ain't nothing changed since I was a kid 
Nothing but the days, months and the years 
Putting it down and keeping it serious 
Trying to keep from shedding these tears 
You would have thought that it would have got better 
Making that rapping and doing these shows 
But to me it only got worse 
Close to (?) nobody knows 
The real steam, the reason why, I do the things that I do 
Getting so high, drinking these brews 
Feeling like I've got nothing to lose 
I payed my dues and the Lord blessed me 
But now I pray to save my mother, and my brother 
Lord please help me 
Heavy loads should be for heavy people 
But niggas just trying to provide for their family 
Facing cops and evil 
And we need our higher powers 
So what I'm going to do is keep my prayers to the sky for you 
Won't tell no lie for you, but nigga I'm willing to die for you 
Undivided, reunited 
With the fist in the pyramid 
Right about now I'm about to tip my lid 
Somebody tell me what this is 
A dream, a reality, my sanity about to give in 
Got the fame and the fortune but this ain't living 

Chorus: 
This ain't livin', but it's the only thing I know 
This ain't livin', I've got to find a higher road 
This ain't livin', but it's the only thing I know 
This ain't livin', I've got to find a higher road 

From the past, the present through, I'm talking about the struggle 
The shit hit me so hard I be swearing I'm seeing devils 
Sometimes it makes me wonder how I hold and maintain 
No matter which direction always seems against the grain 
What to do, what to do? I'm praying for solution 
In the course that I be kicking have me in a institution 
Trying to rid this life, of one I didn't chose 
How you gonna fuck me, I payed my dues 
Every minute of my life I be trying to focus 
Just when I think I got it someone make me know it 
Ain't the way I need to be 
And my eyes way heavy but 
I keep on pushing 'cause I ain't livin' for nothing 

Chorus 

On a quest for peace, on a quest for peace 
But I can't escape these wicked streets 
Got me to realise that I could jeopardize 
A chance for my kids to be 
What they wanna be and what they could be 
And I ain't trying to be that hoody 
But I wish somebody understood me so they could see the good in me 
Trying to do thangs to make the world better 
And everybody hittin' me to be doing what I'm doing 
Strickly out here chasin this cheddar 
Ain't nothin' free ain't nothin' fair to me 
So all in all it's only me 
Take care of me and you should be doing the same thang 
My niggas complain' 
Trying to do to much explainin' 
When the key is really maintainin' 
Waitin' for the Lord to stop the rainin' 
Playing it safe we got to check ourselves 
Before we wreck ourselves 
First we got to respect ourselves 
'Cause a nigga won't give us nothin' else 
Don't sit there and talk me to death 
Go and get off your thang 
I'm a see a change when you make a change 
I believe I know the game 
Enduring our pain cuz you got to take it 
And if you want it you'll make it 
See the drama and shake it 
Get your mind right 

Chorus 

He's on drugs 'cause he's unhealthy 
Family's splitting up 'cause they're struggling 
Somebody out there, don't you feel the need? 
Feeling hopeless 'cause I'm in (?slowly?) 
I'm lookin' for a better day 
I be praying for a better day 
I've been lookin' for a better way 

Chorus