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Sunday, December 11, 2011

Songs That Changed the World--The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era: "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio

"Pastime Paradise" is one of the great tracks on Stevie Wonder's monumental Songs in the Key of Life album.  Coolio adapted the song with new lyrics on this powerful song from 1995.  It is not only one of The Top Songs of the Rock Era, but definitely one of its most important.  If this song doesn't make you pause and think what you can do to improve the situation, better check your pulse.  If everyone takes these lyrics into account and to heart, the world will be a much better place.  By the way, if you already haven't checked out the movie that this song is featured in (Dangerous Minds), that too is powerful and Michelle Pfeiffer gives an amazing performance.
"Gangsta's Paradise"
by Coolio

Written by Coolio, Doug Rasheed, Larry Sanders and Stevie Wonder


As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there's not much left
cause I've been blasting and laughing so long,
that even my mama thinks that my mind has 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 you're talking and where you're walking
or you and your homies might be lined in chalk
I really hate to trip but I gotta, loc
As I Grow 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, saying prayers in the streetlight

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 stripes
so I gotta be down with the hood team
too much television watching got me chasing dreams
I'm an 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' banger
and my homies is down so don't arouse my anger, fool
death ain't nothing but a heartbeat away,
I'm living life, do or die, what can I say
I'm 23 now, but will I live to see 24
the way things are going 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
spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
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 running, but half of them ain't looking
what's going on in the kitchen, but I don't know what's kickin'
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 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
spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
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

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