Gangsta's Paradise Songtext
von 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
′Cause 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 better watch how ya talkin' and where ya walkin′
Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk

I really hate to trip, but I gotta loc
As they croak, I see myself in the pistol smoke, fool
I'm the kinda G that little homies wanna be like
On my knees in the night, sayin′ prayers in the streetlight

Been spendin' most their lives livin' in a gangsta′s paradise
Been spendin′ most their lives livin' in a gangsta′s paradise
We keep spendin' most our lives livin′ in a gangsta's paradise
We keep spendin′ most our lives livin' in a gangsta's paradise


Look at the situation they got me facin′
I can′t live a normal life, I was raised by the street
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 ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye
I′m a loc'd out gangsta, set trippin′ banger
And my homies is down, so don't arouse my anger, fool

Death ain't nothin′ but a heartbeat away
I′m livin' life do-or-die, uh, what can I say?
I′m 23 now, but 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 ones we hurt are you and me?

Been spendin' most their lives livin′ in a gangsta's paradise
Been spendin' most their lives livin′ in a gangsta′s paradise
We keep spendin' most our lives livin′ in a gangsta's paradise
We keep spendin′ most our lives livin' in a 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′
It's goin′ on in the kitchen, but I don't know what′s cookin'


They say I gotta 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 outta luck, fool

Been spendin' most their lives livin′ in a gangsta's paradise
Been spendin′ most their lives livin' in a gangsta′s paradise
We keep spendin' most our lives livin' in a gangsta′s paradise
We keep spendin′ most our lives livin' in a gangsta′s paradise

Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me?
Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me?