WRITER STEVIE WONDER
RECORDED BY COOLIO


As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I take a look at my life and realize there's nothin' left 'Cuz I've been blastin' and laughin' so long, that Even my mama thinks that my mind is gone But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it Me be treated like a punk you know that's unheard of You'd better watch how you're talkin', and where you're walkin' Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk I really hate to trip but I gotta, know As they group I see myself in the pistol smoke, fool I'm the kinda G the little homies wanna be like On my knees in the night, sayin' prayers in the streetlight
Chorus:
Been spending most their lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Been spending most their lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
They got the situation, they got me facin' I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the state So I gotta be down with the hood team Too much television watchin' got me chasin' dreams I'm a educated fool with money on my mind Got my 10 in my hand and a gleam in my eye I'm a loc'd out gangsta set trippin' banga And my homies is down so don't arouse my anga, fool Death ain't nothin' but a heartbeat away, I'm livin' life, do or die, what can I say I'm 23 now, will I live to see 24 the way things is goin' I don't know Tell me why are we, so blind to see That the one's we hurt, are you and me Been spending most their lives, living in the gangsta's paradise Been spending most their lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise Power and the money, money and the power Minute after minute, hour after hour Everybody's runnin', but half of them ain't lookin' What's goin' on in the kitchen, but I don't know what's cookin'
they say I got ta learn, but nobody's here to teach me If they can't understand it, how can they reach ME I guess they can't, I guess they won't
I guess they front, that's why I know my life is out of luck, fool
Been spending most their lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Been spending most their lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the one's we hurt, are you and me
Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the one's we hurt, are you and me