Growin Up - T-Bone

I remember growin up

And all the things we went through

I remember all the struggles and pains

When no one cared you were there

Gave me hope and you answered my prayers

I remember all the struggles and pains

Now its 1997

And it seems like times gone by so fast

As I think of the past tears run down my eyes and I start to laugh

I’m thinking about the things I did as a kid

With no worries just one big family

Chilling in Frisco living on Madrid

Moms was a hard worker and pops was a preacher man

And I give him props

Cuz he tried to raise me the best two parents can

Working nine to five to keep me in a private school

While I was disrespecting my teachers acting like a fool

I flunked the first and fifth grade

And I wonder how I flunked

The first time that they see my report card full of bad grades

Getting suspended everyday and letters from my teachers

The church keep pointing they fingers sending me to some other preacher

My teachers told me I was never goin to amount to nothin

Thinking as I get older I be robbing and pimping Thugging and hustling

Living that playa life but I proved everybody wrong

So to those who doubted me is to whom I dedicate this song

I remember growin up

And all the things we went through

I remember all the struggles and pains

When no one cared you were there

Gave me hope and you answered my prayers

I remember all the struggles and pains

Remember the days I used to see my sister hooked on drugs

Gang bangin tossin the forties

Nobody but the thugs

I used to cry to see my sister in that state of mind

But keep your head up Jackie god said it gonna be alright

Hopefully in 98 Steven gonna be back at home

Had old San Quentin

But if not you still got me, T-Bone

Half of our homies locked up in penitentiaries

And some in cemeteries all I got is memories

Of when we’d kick it at the schoolyard

With plain old Tims Locs and khakis

Tryin to show the world we was raw

Then in November 26 of 1985

My Nina passed away

But yo I know she still alive

Up there in heaven with the lord god bless us all

Seems as you’re older life can really start to take its toll

I miss my friends that didn’t make it to see yesterday

Pour out my heart and not liquor for those that passed away

I remember growin up

And all the things we went through

I remember all the struggles and pains

When no one cared you were there

Gave me hope and you answered my prayers

I remember all the struggles and pains

I still remember when we came home from San Jose

To find our home in ashes burned down to a charcoal grey

We lost everything we owned

And now we in a one bedroom apartment with no heater so we freezing cold

Trusted in god though

And knew that he was there for us

Whether it’s safe and sound or times are hard and dangerous

Like two years later when it happened all over again

My pops was running with a cash register in his hands

Tryin to survive the flames from the business that they had built

My mother cried and hugged me as she wrapped me in a quilt

I’m telling you it ain’t easy

When god calls you and your family to be in the street ministry

I had hopes and dreams to one day have a rap career

Its 1997 I can’t believe I’m finally here

Now I be buyin ???

And diamonds

And thank the lord

He blessed me with the gift of street rhymin

I remember growin up

And all the things we went through

I remember all the struggles and pains

When no one cared you were there

Gave me hope and you answered my prayers

I remember all the struggles and pains

I remember growin up

And all the things we went through

I remember all the struggles and pains

When no one cared you were there

Gave me hope and you answered my prayers

I remember all the struggles and pains