[Intro]
I had a bad dream
Don't be afraid, bad dreams are only dreams

What a time you chose to be born in

[Hook: Life]

Babies crying, brothers dying, and brothers getting knocked
%#@! is deep on the block and you got me locked down
In this cold, cold world


[Verse 1: GZA]
It was the night before New Year's, and all through the $#&@ing projects

Not a handgun was silent, not even a Tec
Outside as I'm stuck, by enemies who put fear
And blasted on the spot before the pigs were there

You know hoods, robbers, snipers new in sight, $#&@ blue and white
They escape before them flash the $#&@ing lights
Gunshots, shatter first-floor window panes

Shells hit the ground and blood stained the dice game
By the broke isle aesthetic, any style you set it
Beat ^!$$%s toothless, physically cut up like gooses

But with iron on the sides, thugs took no excuses
Therefore, your fifty-two handblocks was useless
Links was snatched off necks, scars on throats

Jackets took, after bullet rips through coats
Against those who felt the cold from the steel made em fold
And squeal, once the metal hit the temple of his grill

Construction worker, who was caught for his bomber
No time to swing the hammer that was hanging from his farmer's
And it's bugged how some ^!$$%s catch slugs

And pockets dug from everything except check stubs
And it does, sound ill like wars in Brownsville
Or fatal robberies in Red Hook where feds look

For fugitives to shoot cops, ^!$$%s laying on roof tops
For his cream he stashed in a shoebox
But he was hot, and the strip was filled with young killers

You don't suspect, so cops creep like caterpillars
And born thieves stay hooded with extra bullets
Those who try to flee they hit the vertebrae, increase the murder rate

Similar to hit men who pull out Tecs and then
Drop those who crack like tacos from Mexican
Rapid, like recipients cashing checks again

Back to the mother$#&@ing spot on Lexington

[Hook: Life]

We be running from the cops, busting off shots
%#@! is deep on the block and you got me locked down
In this cold, cold world


[Verse 2: Inspectah Deck]
Yo - no time to freeze, undercovers ease up in Grand Prixs

And seize packages and pocket the currency
Cliques control strips full clips are sprayed
Yellow tape barricades sidewalks where bodies lay

Madness strikes at twelve o'clock midnight
Stick-up kids on the ground broke the staircase light
And I stays harassed, scrambling for petty cash

Jakes on my $$# young bucks is learning fast
357's and 44's
Bought inside corner stores, their fire sparks the wars

Hospital floors surrounded by the law
Homicide questioning while the Jakes guard the door
My hood stay tense, loyalty puts strength in my team

Cause ^!$$%s' main concern is CREAM
Some ^!$$%s in the jet black Gallant
Shot up the Chinese restaurant, for this kid named Lamont

I thought he was dead but instead he missed the kid
And hit a twelve-year-old girl in the head, and then fled
Tactical narcotic task force, back off fast

Cause the crime boss is passing off cash
Extortions for portions of streets, causes beef
Having followers of Indians trying to play Chief

You witness the saga, casualties and drama
Life is a script; I'm not an actor but the author
Of a modern-day opera, where the main character

Is presidential papers, the dominant factor

[Hook]