GZA — Cold World

[Intro: sample] “I had a bad dream” “Don’t be afraid, bad dreams are only dreams” “What a time you chose to be born in” [Chorus: Life] Babies cryin', brothers dyin', and brothers gettin' knocked Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down In this cold, cold world [Verse 1: GZA] It was the night before New Year’s And all through the fuckin' projects Not a handgun was silent, not even a TEC Outsiders were stuck, by enemies who put fear And blasted on the spot before the pigs were there You know hoods, robbers, snipers new in sight Fuck blue and white They escape before them flash the fuckin' lights Gunshots shatter first-floor window panes Shells hit the ground and blood stained the dice game Whether pro-calisthenic, any style you set it Beat niggas toothless, physically cut up like gooses But with iron on the sides, thugs took no excuses Therefore, your fifty-two handblocks was useless Linx was snatched off necks, left scars on throats Jackets took, after bullet rips through coats Against those who felt the cold from the steel Made ‘em fold and squeal, once the metal hit the temple of his grill Construction worker, who was caught for his bomber No time to swing the hammer that was hangin' from his farmers And it’s bugged how some niggas catch slugs And pockets dug from everythin' except check stubs And it does, sound ill like wars in Brownsville Or fatal robberies in Red Hook where feds look For fugitives to shoot cops, niggas layin' on roof tops For his C.R.E.A.M he stashed in a shoebox But he was hot, and the strip was filled with young killers You don’t suspect, so cops creep like caterpillars And born thieves stay hooded with extra bullets Those who try to flee, they hit the vertebrae Increase the murder rate Similar to hitmen who pull out TECs and then Drop those who crack like tacos from Mexican Rapid, like recipients cashin' checks again Back to the motherfuckin' spot on Lexington [Chorus: Life] Babies cryin', brothers dyin', and brothers gettin' knocked Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down In this cold, cold world We be runnin' from the cops, bustin' off shots Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down In this cold, cold world [Verse 2: Inspectah Deck] Yo, no time to freeze, undercovers ease up in Grand Prixs And seize packages and pocket the currency Cliques control strips, full clips are sprayed Yellow tape barricades sidewalks where bodies lay Madness strikes at twelve o’clock midnight Stick-up kids on the ground broke the staircase light And I stays harassed, scramblin' for petty cash Jakes on my ass, young bucks is learnin' fast Three-Fifteen-Sevens and Forty-Fours Bought inside corner stores, provide sparks for wars Hospital floors surrounded by the law Homicide questionin' while the Jakes guard the door My hood stay tense, loyalty puts strength in my team ‘Cause niggas’ main concern is C.R.E.A.M Some niggas in the jet-black Galant Shot up the Chinese restaurant for this kid named Lamont I thought he was dead, but instead, he missed the kid And hit a twelve-year-old girl in the head, and then fled Tactical narcotic task force, back off fast ‘Cause the crime boss is passin' off cash Extortions for portions of streets, causes beef Havin' followers of Indians trying to play Chief You witness the saga, casualties and drama Life is a script; I’m not an actor But the author of a modern-day opera Where the main character is presidential papers, the dominant factor [Bridge: Life] You know, you had me With your sensuous charm But you looked so alarmed As I walked on by [Chorus x2: Life] Babies cryin', brothers dyin', and brothers gettin' knocked Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down In this cold, cold world We be runnin' from the cops, bustin' off shots Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down In this cold, cold world