From the girl in my dreams, I knew about the hood
Had a little baby, life was all good
Then I got to call, if something was wrong

Next thing I know, I was back to my old ways
Goin' out, till they came and took me away
Now everything I work for is gone (gone)


Refrain:
Oooh, I wish I wanna turn away

I was still be free today
Sometimes it don’t pay to be the hero
Oooh, should I look into my baby's eyes

Before I took another man his life
It don’t pay to be the hero


There is something I can say to bring him back
They lost him just right that
I wish that we could turn around

There is something I can say to bring him back
They lost him just right that
I wish that we could turn around


Don't know why I was to hard to let the life go
I was mad, wasn't thinking `bout my family at home

And how much they're dependent on me
Now I'm looking at 20 years no parole
I'm not gonna get the chance to see my baby grow

And what she gonna think about her daddy (daddy)
Ohhh


Refrain:
Oooh, I wish I wanna turn away
I was still be free today

Sometimes it don’t pay to be the hero
Oooh, should I look into my baby's eyes
Before I took another man his life

It don’t pay to be the hero

There is something I can say to bring him back

They lost him just right that
I wish that we could turn around
There is something I can say to bring him back

They lost him just right that
I wish that we could turn around


So many nights I don't sleep (nights I don't sleep)
Couse I think about the things that I've seen (things that I've seen)
They're almost really driving me crazy (driving me crazy)

Instead the piece of mess seperates my family from me

Refrain:

Oooh, I wish I wanna turn away
I was still be free today
Sometimes it don’t pay to be the hero

Oooh, should I look into my baby's eyes
Before I took another man his life
It don’t pay to be the hero


There is something I can say to bring him back
They lost him just right that

I wish that we could turn around
There is something I can say to bring him back
They lost him just right that

I wish that we could turn around

From the girl in my dreams, I knew about the hood

Had a little baby, life was all good
Then I got to call, if something was wrong