Verse One:

As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there's not much left
Cuz I've been blastin and laughin so long
That even my mama thinks that my mind is gone
But I aint never crossed a man that didnt deserve it
Me be treated like a punk, you know thats unheard of
You better watch how you talkin and where you walkin
Or you and your homiez might be lined in chalk
I really hate to trip, but I gotta lope
As they cope, I see myself in the pistol smoke, fool
Im the kinda G the little homiez wannabe like
On my knees in the night
Saying prayers in the street light

Chorus:

We've been spending most our lives living in the Gangstas Paradise
We've been spending most our lives living in the Gangstas Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the gangstas paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the gangstas paradise

Verse Two:

They got the situation
They got me facin
I cant live a normal life
I was raised by the stripes
So I gotta be down with the hood team
Too much television watchin got me chasin dreams
Im an educated fool with money on my mind
Got my 10 in my hand and the green in my eye
Im a loped-out gangsta set-trippin banger
And my homiez is down, so dont arouse my anger, fool
Death aint nuthin but a heartbeat away
Im livin life doin time, what can I say?
Im 23, now how will I live to see 24
The way things is goin, I dunno

Chorus:

Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me
We've been spending most our lives
living in the Gangstas Paradise

Verse Three:

Power and the money, money and the power
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybodys runnin, but half of them aint lookin
At whats goin on in the kitchen
But I dont know whats cookin
They say I gotta learn, but nobodys here to teach me
If they cant understand it, how can they reach me?

I guess they cant
I guess they wont
I guess they front

Thats why I know my life is outta luck, fool

Chorus:

We've been spending most our lives
living in the Gangstas Paradise
Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me
Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me