Didn't take nothing that I didn't need   'Cause they didn't offer classes in what I want to be   They didn't offer manhood, responsibility   Had to learn it the hard way, earned my degree in the street      Graduated from Hard Knocks, got my education   Hard knocks, out in the street      Can't bust through that ceiling without feeling the burn   And I ain't got nothing that I did not earn   Chasing that mighty dollar 'stead of hitting the books   Studying Donny and Stevie, learned to sail the hooks      I graduated from Hard Knocks   The bumps and the bruises to prove it, oh   Hard Knocks, summa cum laude   Hard Knocks, oh   Hard Knocks, c'mon      Had a real good teacher named Mr. Life   Didn't teach no chemistry but he taught me how to fight   Didn't teach biology but I learned it from the birds and the bees   Said stay close to your friends, even closer to your enemies, oh      Hard Knocks   Graduated from Hard Knocks   Bumps and the bruises to prove it, oh!   Hard knocks   Hard Knocks, gotta bring it on down, c'mon      Said these streets keep calling me   Don't know what it is   Is it the thrill that I seek? I don't know!   Is it the night yeah, night yeah? Or the sound of the city?   Whatever it is these streets keep calling me day and night   I can't get 'em off, c'mon      Said they're calling me, calling me, calling me   They're calling me, calling me, calling   Calling me, calling me, calling me   Calling me, calling me, yeah yeah      Calling me, calling me, yeah   Calling me, yeah yeah   Calling me, calling me, calling me   Calling me, yeah yeah