Be a Man - E.T.W.: Song Lyrics, Music Videos & Concerts

Be a Man

4

Christian & Gospel

Be a Man was released on January 1, 1995 by EMI CMG as a part of the album Psychotheosocioghettopathic: The Escape

Song Details

AlbumPsychotheosocioghettopathic: The Escape

Release DateJanuary 1, 1995

LabelEMI CMG

LanguageEnglish

Melodicness

Acousticness

Valence

Danceability

Energy

BPM82

OVERVIEW

LYRICS

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS

E.T.W.

Performer

COMPOSITION & LYRICS

Elroy Forbes

Composer

PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING

Tedd Tjornhom

Producer

Lyrics

Yeah

Ooh, yeah

When I was just a shorty, couldn't understand why

He used to punch me in my chest, said, "Be a man and don't cry"

When I was in their face, the tears never did fall

Until I got around the corner, way down the hall

"Be a man, son, be a man" echoed in my mind

But an example of a man I could stand was hard to find

When the nickel bag was first introduced on the block

They got the shorties to deliver, said no, you got rocked

Now the shorties grew up, the roughnecks on the block

The stronger would survive and the others got cock blocked

In the streets, you do your math and I could do mine

But no matter how you add it up, it always equals a nine

Bullets did fly and brothers got dropped

I saw one man hold another man who just got popped

I could see through his tears and barely read his lips

He said, "Man, don't die, Lord God, be a man"

So from then until now, I still fail to understand

What tears got to do with being a man or not

You see, weakness to me is simply just a state of mind

You are what you think you are and that's the bottom line

Be a man, son

Be a man, son

As I continue my trek to find the definition of a man

I gathered up the knowledge any way that I can

There used to be an old man sitting by the corner store

"Little brother, can you spare some change?"

My curiosity got the best of me

As I asked a flunky how he became an alcoholic junkie

He said he used to have a wife that he beat to death

He said he used to have three kids, they all left

He said he had a bachelor in science, a minor in alchemy

Spent six years to get this fat degree

I couldn't see how a man of the world could have it all

Lose it all and get so beat down he can't get up at all

As I was leaving, I said, "Life can be rough"

He said, "No, life will be life, I just wasn't man enough"

You see, a man isn't a man 'cause he can raise his fist

But he's a man when he can figure out a way to flip the script

You never know what you have 'til what you have is gone

It's the pride of a man that makes him do wrong

'Cause anyone can have a baby, give him a last name maybe

But only a man'll raise his child and respect his lady

Be a man, son

Be a man, son

Be a man, son

Be a man, son

Preacher man, preach a man if you can

Tell me the meaning of life and what makes or breaks a man

He said, "Aristocratics to the hustler con addicts

Interpretations of a man are visually emphatic

Got the egotistical, the analytical

You got the knuckle up, get physical when times get critical

The sellouts are always quick to bail out

Oppose to those that chose to reach their goals

And offer help to those that fell out

The definition of a fool uses failure as a tool

And vain repetition as a rule

Never seem to grow up, they stay boys

Always ego trippin', strappin' automatic toys"

He said, "There's more to being a man than you were told

It's not how high you roll, but it's the condition of your soul

It's the spirit of a man that controls how he thinks

And it's the words that he say are from the rivers that he drinks

It doesn't take much for his woman to call him king

He's royalty, he respects the meaning of the ring

Ruler or slave, depends on his priorities

His knowledge of the game will determine his seniority

Clothes that he wears is just a symbol for the eye

It's the God that he serves is where his true power lies"

Be a man, son

Be a man, son

Be a man, son

Be a man, son

Be a man, son

Be a man, son

Be a man, son

Be a man, son

Be a man, son

Written by: Elroy Forbes

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