At 17 years old I started runnin' the streets   Man, I had some fun in the streets   11, 12, sometimes 1 in the streets   By 18, I started seeing the sun in the streets      My mom started trippin' on me   Like Will, you gotta choose your friends carefully   Like, I trust you but please call me   And when you have kids of your own you'll see   I'ma be here when all your friends won't      But I was busy hollerin' parents just don't understand   Now here I am with a family runnin' the lines she ran on me   We ain't always see eye to eye but Mom, on your principles   Now I rely, you got me tastin' my toes      I didn't know   Momma told me don't go down that road   But I gotta go where I gotta go   So take your fool telling me I told you so      I used to roll hard with this dude named Chuck   Rollin' in my car with this dude named Chuck   My Mommy really liked this dude named Chuck   She thought he was really and polite, Chuck      And me used to roll out faithfully, inevitably   You see Chuck, you gon' see me   Like we on TV, the bosom is the buddy   Share food, clothes, and money, and hunnies      Flock like we was players from the NBA   Still hurts to recall the day I heard him say   To this girl named Mya   I was diggin', he told her I was a liar      Told her I be cheatin' on women   Breakin' hearts and grinnin'   He told her her life would be better with him in it   That's the friend I chose      I didn't know   Momma told me don't go down that road   But I gotta go where I gotta go   So take your fool telling me I told you so      Momma used to say, "Take your time young man   I ain't always gonna be there , holding your hand   But, you'll always know exactly where I am   And when I'm not there in my place the Lord will stand      Will study the world, only the wise succeed   And when you're eyes tell lies your heart should lead   You're gonna do dirt we all gon' sin   But when you realize it, apologize and never do it again      Mom told me don't rush to get old   If you got youth, truth clutched in your hold   It's like possibilities too much to behold   An emotional shield from life's blustery cold      Mom, all this stuff was hard you said was hard   Childish disregard 'cuz my head was hard   Now, no question opposed, ugh      I didn't know   Momma told me don't go down that road   But I gotta go where I gotta go   So take your fool telling me I told you so