Intro: (first three lines lp only)      I had a bad dream   Don't be afraid, bad dreams are only dreams   What a time you chose to be born in...      Babies crying brothers dying and brothers getting knocked   Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down   In this cold, cold world...      Verse one: the gza      It was the night before new year's, and all through the fuckin projects   Not a handgun was silent, not even a tec   Outside as I'm stuck, by enemies who put fear   And blasted on the spot before the pigs were dere   You know hoods robbers snipers new in sight fuck blue and white   They escape before them flash the fuckin lights   Gunshots, shatter first floor window panes   Shells hit the ground and blood stained the dice game   Whether broke callisthetic, any style you set it   Beat niggaz toothless, physically cut up like gooses   But with iron on the sides thugs took no excuses   Therefore, your fifty-two handblocks was useless   Links was snatched off necks, scars on throats   Jackets took, after bullet rips through coats   Against those who felt the cold from the steel made em fold   And squeal, once the metal hit the temple of his grill   Destruction worker, who was caught for his bomber   No time to swing the hammer that was hangin from his farmer's   And it's bugged how some niggaz catch slugs   And pockets dug from everything except check stubs   And it does, sound ill like wars in brownsville   Or fatal robberies in red hook where feds look   For fugitives to shoot cops, niggaz layin on roof tops   For his cream he stashed in a shoebox   But he was hot, and the strip was filled with young killers   You don't suspect, so cops creep like caterpillars   And born thieves stay hooded with extra bullets   Those who try to flee they hit the vertebrae, increase the murder rate   Similar to hit men who pull out tecs and then   Drop those who act like thai flows from mexican   Rabbit, like recipients cashin checks again   Back to the motherfuckin spot on lexington      Chorus:      Babies crying brothers dying and brothers getting knocked   Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down   In this cold, cold world...      We be runnin from the cops, bustin off shots   Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down   In this cold, cold world...      Verse two: inspectah deck      Yo   No time to freeze, undercovers ease up in grand prixs   And seize packages and pocket the currency   Clicks control strips full clips are sprayed   Yellow tape barricades sidewalks where bodies lay   Madness strikes at twelve o'clock midnight   Stick up kids on the ground broke the staircase light   And I stays harassed, scramblin for petty cash   Jakes on my ass young bucks is learnin fast   357's and 44's   Bought inside corner stores, their fire sparks the wars   Hospital floors surrounded by the law   Homicide questioning while the jakes guard the door   My hood stay tense, loyalty puts strength in my team   Cause niggaz main concern is cream   Some niggaz in the jet black gallant   Shot up the chinese resteraunt, for this kid named lamont   I thought he was dead but instead he missed a kid   And hit a twelve year old girl in the head and then fled   Tactical narcotic, task force, back off fast   Cause the crime boss is passin off cash   Extortions, for portions of streets, causes beef   Havin followers of indians trying to play chief   You witness the saga, casualties and drama   Life is a script, I'm not a actor but the author   Of a modern day opera, where the main character   Is presidential paper, the dominant, factor      Chorus