Growing up I've seen a lot of shit in my time   I've seen hunger, hunger, pleasure, pain, violence and crime   I have learned from the mistakes of my friends that have died   And from those who have gone down in life that just never   tried   Life is just too short I realize that now   I'm gonna get my shit together and try to make it some how   Cause one thing that I have learned is that you only live once   So now I'll take life by the balls and squeeze until they crunch      Knowledge of the streets, a valuable tool   Type of education you can't get in school   Many hard times, losing friends, getting burned   Nobody to teach me, I just learned   A man like clay molded by his surroundings   He starts to take shape of the beating and the pounding   Assembly line that I've been through   A hard motherfucker with a bad attidude   Maybe its just the times we live in   Maybe its just urban discipline      The ways of urban life are not as they seem   Standing up and fighting is what living here means   In order to survive you've got to earn your respect   The only lessons that you learn are from things that you regret      [Lead]      [Verse II]      Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island and Queens   Standing up and fighting is what living here means   In order to survive you've got to earn your respect   The only lessons that you learn are from things that you regret