Better Way Out

On them Kensington blocks, shit’s colder than ice,

T-Bone out schemin’, never thinkin’ twice.

Lil bad seed, heart black as the street,

Hustlin’ drugs just to buy a new pair in sneak.

Got Terry Boy taggin’ right next to his side,

Pure soul, wide eyes, but he down for the ride.

Didn’t know better, thought the hood was the truth,

But T-Bone taught hustle as the gospel of youth.

You don’t gotta follow pain,

You can rise above the chain.

Even lost boys can find their way,

There’s a light past the block one day…

T-Bone and Terry Boy, runnin’ through the night,

Caught up in the struggle, but there’s hope in sight.

Philly streets are heavy, but the soul can change,

There’s a better way to live, break out the chains.

Now T-Bone wild, talkin’ shit with a grin,

Rollin’ through The Bottom , actin’ born to sin.

Pullin’ Terry Boy deeper, “C’mon, don’t bitch,

This the life of a king, gettin’ rich off a lick.”

But Terry heart hurt, he just wanted some peace,

Not the smoke, not the dope, not the crooked police.

Still he followed T-Bone, like a shadow on the ave,

Didn’t see the road endin’ in a six-foot grave.

You don’t gotta walk that line,

Leave the poison far behind.

Even in the darkest fight,

There’s a dawn breakin’ into light…

T-Bone and Terry Boy, runnin’ through the night,

Caught up in the struggle, but there’s hope in sight.

Philly streets are heavy, but the soul can change,

There’s a better way to live, break out the chains.

By the Schuylkill waters, rods castin’ for cat,

Dreamin’ ‘bout freedom, but it ain’t like that.

T-Bone laughin’, “Fuck hope, it’s a game,”

But Terry Boy quiet, feelin’ drownin’ in shame.

See, the hood’ll eat kids if they don’t wise quick,

Turn a pure heart soft, make a saint turn sick.

But the story ain’t done, there’s a fork in the lane,

Even lost boys can rise, even broke can change.

Don’t let the block define your fate,

It ain’t too late, it ain’t too late.

Lift your eyes, there’s a higher call,

You don’t gotta die in these streets at all…

T-Bone and Terry Boy, runnin’ through the night,

Caught up in the struggle, but there’s hope in sight.

Philly streets are heavy, but the soul can change,

There’s a better way to live, break out the chains.