It's not, it's not me exactly, who touches people   It's what I represent, the possibility that dreams from long ago   May still come true even if they, even if, even if   Even if they look lost forever      I had a homie named, Tony, 16, 6"2'   Headed to the NBA straight from high school   My nigga had his ball game on lock   But at the same time he was in love with the block      All the stuff that came wit it the drugs and the guns   The gangs, the slangs and all the funds   He just got a letter of contempt from the Cavaliers   Sayin' how they love him and they wish he was there      He had it made like, Special Ed about to get the bread   But chose to do somethin' dumb instead   Go to war wit the crew on the other side of town   And was more ready then Tony got laid down      He ain't even have a chance, died 'fore the ambulance   Even got to him so many went through him   I hate to tell the story but that's how it is   Growin' up in the hood as a kid      When you got big dreams don't listen to what nobody say   And don't let nobody turn you away   When you got big dreams keep your eyes on the prize   Don't fall to the wayside      When you got big dreams don't listen to what nobody say   And don't let nobody turn you away   When you got big dreams keep your eyes on the prize   Don't fall to the wayside, reach for the sky      I knew a girl named Gina that was a hell of a singer   And e'body fell in love wit her when they seen her   Babygirl was on the verge of signin' a big deal   Eighteen and life looked so surreal      She was stuck wit a dude that was all bad news   And all he ever did was give baby the blues   But she was true to a nigga do for a nigga   Pop, you and ya whole crew for a nigga      One night, he came, picked her up   Told her let's ride that's the same night   Daddy watched her die they was tryna hit a lick   But the lick hit back put a end to the deal   And all of that      She ain't even have to be there   He knew it wasn't right, now he gotta deal wit it   For the rest of his life and the part I don't like   He ain't even get grazed but the homegirl Gina   Is layin' in the grave      When you got big dreams don't listen to what nobody say   And don't let nobody turn you away   When you got big dreams keep your eyes on the prize   Don't fall to the wayside      When you got big dreams don't listen to what nobody say   And don't let nobody turn you away   When you got big dreams keep your eyes on the prize   Don't fall to the wayside, reach for the sky      I got a few relatives, given family drama   Always got they hands out   When they see me and my momma   One could have been a doctor the other a chef   But when he got his own kitchen   He was cookin' somethin' else      Now, his life in the drain, a triflin' shame   He all washed up, wife took e'thing   No car, no mo', no house and everywhere he go   He stole, so they throwed him out      I was growin' up lookin' up to be like them   Now, I'm throwin' up cash, rollin' up in the bed   I was stuck wit a dream I had since a shorty   I be damned if I let another man support me      Now, Uncle Junebuck's sick, skinny as hell   He got aids in his body from the needles he shared   E'time he get his welfare checks   He don't care, if you wanna see him go to the crack house   He there      When you got big dreams don't listen to what nobody say   And don't let nobody turn you away   When you got big dreams keep your eyes on the prize   Don't fall to the wayside      When you got big dreams don't listen to what nobody say   And don't let nobody turn you away   When you got big dreams keep your eyes on the prize   Don't fall to the wayside, reach for the sky      When you got big dreams, when you got big dreams   When you got big dreams, when you got big dreams   Keep your eyes on the prize don't fall to the wayside   Reach for the sky