Untitled

Verse 1

I was born in Chicago, cold wind cut me deep,

Yeah, I was born in Chicago, cold wind cut me deep,

Lost too many good friends, Lord, the streets don’t let you sleep.

⸻

Verse 2

Mama worked her fingers raw, just to keep them lights on,

Oh, mama worked her fingers raw, just to keep them lights on,

Daddy said, “Protect your assets, boy, before it’s all gone.”

⸻

Chorus

From our mistakes… we gotta find a way,

From our mistakes… Lord, we gotta find a way,

Teach my babies how to live, without the price I had to pay.

⸻

Verse 3

Dreams feel so heavy, that ladder too high to climb,

Dreams feel so heavy, that ladder too high to climb,

Humility in my left hand, pride weighin’ down my right side.

⸻

Verse 4

I still hear daddy preachin’, sittin’ in that old chair,

I still hear daddy preachin’, sittin’ in that old chair,

Said the world gon’ try to rob you blind, boy, you better guard what’s there.

⸻

Chorus

From our mistakes… we gotta find a way,

From our mistakes… Lord, we gotta find a way,

Break these chains of pain and sorrow, let my children see the day.

⸻

Hook

Now I got kids of my own, teachin’ them how to stand,

Yes, I got kids of my own, showin’ ‘em how to stand,

How to build without the burden, and shape life with their hands.

⸻

Verse 5

This city tried to break me, but I won’t lay down dead,

This city tried to break me, but I won’t lay down dead,

I’ll turn my pain to wisdom, pass on hope instead.

⸻

Chorus (big, final)

From our mistakes… Lord, we’ve got to find a way,

From our mistakes… yeah, we’ve got to find a way,

So my children’s children rise up free, and carry on someday.

⸻

Outro (slow fade)

Chicago raised me, but it won’t decide my fate,

Chicago raised me, no it won’t decide my fate,

I’m buildin’ brighter futures… learnin’ strength from our mistakes.