Been This Way Before - Roger Troutman

Well I been on the scene

For a mighty long time

I never use drugs

Because I find

It meant destruction

To some friends of mine

Dope is mean

Dope is unkind

Just like a bad dream

Always on my mind

But from a bad dream

You will awake

Taking drugs

Is the final mistake

I tripped about drugs

And this story I tell

So listen all you people

And listen well

Well it seems to me

That I been this way before

I seen these sights

Just where I’m not sure

Maybe in my dreams

Or a story told

I would know these warnings

Even with a blindfold

I know this path

Has an evil lead

You know it’s evil and it’s lurking

In the summer breeze

Yes it’s evil and it’s lurking

Off to my side

But I have no fear

Because I been here

Dig it, dig it

I been this way before

The path is dark and so unsure

Filled with warnings

That we all ignore

I got to keep my eyes open

So I don’t miss the door

You got to keep your eyes open

So you don’t miss the door, dig it

We got to keep our eyes open

So we don’t miss the door, dig it

Now dig up, everybody

This is what I got to say

You got to choose real careful

Not to go astray

Well I know this Joe, he is useless, yeat

Without wine, women, fun and song

But even wine, women, fun and song

Can lead you wrong

If you don’t know you gotta be strong

I been here before

Well the path is rough

For rich and poor

Young and old, you see I know

You.

know the road

Has so many, so many

Highways and bi-ways

And both ways and more ways

Right ways and wrong ways

There’s so many ways

You know you better choose right

Dig it

Here lies such a lovely flower

Just look at it sighin'

As it lies among the vines

I got to watch out

As it lies in its spendor

'Cause I know that it’s waiting

There to hinder

But it can’t fool me

'Cause I know, yes I know

'Cause I know that it’s poison ivy

Well poison ivy makes me think

About a friend I had

Makes me think about a friend

Who was my enemy

Yes he offered me a pill

And said my brain would heal

But his pill only gave me

A temporary thrill

I was trapped like a slave

I was trapped like a slave

For the slow slow kill

This dope would steal

Now a bottle of dope

Gives me a cold chill

Leave the crack alone

Leave the crack alone

I would rather get

The legal stuff that they distill

And be better off

From now until

Because you see I know

Because I’ve been here

I been this way before

The path is dark and so unsure

Filled with warnings

That we all ignore

Taking drugs is the final mistake

Taking drugs is the final mistake

I been this way before

The path is dark and so unsure

Filled with warnings

That we all ignore