Hard Knocks

Oh yeah Didn't take nothing that I didn't need 'Cause they didn't offer classes in what I wanna be They didn't offer manhood responsibility Had to learn it the hard way, earn my degree in the streets Graduated from hard knocks, I got my education And hard knocks cared a little about the situation Hard knocks, got the bumps and the bruises to prove it Hard knocks Can't bust through the ceiling without feeling the burn And I ain't got nothing that I didn't earn Chasing that dollar, still hitting the books (still hitting the books) Studying Donnie and Stevie, I learn to sail the hooks Talk about those hard knocks Got the bumps and the bruises to prove it Hard knocks, got the rhyme and the reason to choose it Hard knocks out on the streets Hard knocks Had a real good teacher named Mr. Life (named Mr. Life) Didn't teach no chemistry but he taught me how to fight (taught me how to fight) Didn't teach biology but I learned it From the birds and bees (from the birds and the bees) Said stay close to your friends, closer to your enemies (Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) that's right (Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) that's right (Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) so right I graduated from hard knocks, I got my education And hard knocks getting in and out of situations Hard knocks, got the bumps and the bruises to prove it Hard knocks, oh Lord Feel it in my soul, all the heads in pain From my hard knocks I've got the bumps and the bruises to prove it Deep inside, oh yeah