Long Story Short - Illy, Cisco Tavares

There’s more to life than getting leg up and foot in the door

I mean, I’d love more money, hey wouldn’t we all?

But putting cash over loved ones couldn’t be more

I could be flat broke, still wouldn’t be poor

And as for all the hard times that I guess should hurt

I didn’t skip a beat, still put my best foot first

Wish I could talk about my fam, but it wouldn’t have worked

Cause when the love’s that strong, it can’t be put into words

So I dedicate this better songs, better grades

Trying to be a better son, better brother, better mate

And I’ve learned from mistakes and I don’t know what I am

But a part of that’s knowing what you ain’t

And I ain’t never put a dude down just for trying to catch his break

Never gave shit based on the ways

They’ll never said I did it any other way than my own way

At my own pace, with my own wrong terms, no brakes

Said I’m going to be somebody

Knowing no one can stop me

They can say what they say, just watch me

And when I get they know

And high school wasn’t for me much, nah

Most of my teachers swore I was fucked

But then a couple had faith in me, helped me back up

Probably never quite thank them enough

But thanks to them, I’ll be stepping on stage at my graduation

Long way from walking train tracks from the station

Riding the 405 from the street, in amazement

Spray-paint can control, dedication

Displayed on the walls, disputed its name

As artform until I tried and wasn’t able at all

I still wonder how graffiti goes under

When naked little girls go on magazine covers

Okay, but I grew up, now I’m all of six feet

No more fucking around, it’s uni courses and beats

And what’s important to me is my family tree

The now and knowing whatever will be will be

Said I’m going to be somebody

Knowing no one can stop me

They can say what they say, just watch me

And when I get paid, they know

Thanks to the love, we gave me

The road up ahead don’t faze me

Looking before we come, it’s crazy

When I get they know, you know

So, I live with aims to make the most of it when

I know that we’ll never have this moment again

Headphones on my head, board shorts on my legs

Cigarettes, note pad and a pen

Going back to them lunch smokes, weekend binges with my kin

In my FUBU jeans, with my fringes to my chin

Even before that, barely finished being kids

When we’d give shit to the girls we interested in

Growing up, soda bottles keep us entertained

When I kept my cigarettes in my pencil case

And couldn’t wait till each 6th of September came

Come the 7th, pickin' days off the calendar again

And some mates went astray

I love 'em, but things change, what can I say?

You lay in the bed you make

And I’m tryna make mine a king

But life’s now, so I slow down, take it all in

Said I’m going to be somebody

Knowing no one can stop me

They can say what they say, just watch me

And when I get paid, they know

Thanks to the love, we gave me

The road up ahead don’t faze me

Looking before we come, it’s crazy

When I get they know, you know