Up late at night, workin’ a short shift at mid-day
Thinkin’ if I just spit shit right, the money’ll meet me mid-way
Sadly that mind state’ll probably lead to my downfall
Wishin’ I was 17 again in high school, movin’ down halls
Give me some more time to contemplate the rest of my life
Cuz if this rap shit doesn’t work or I run out of shit to write
Then what am I? A failure, a washed-up has-been
Solemn vows to never set down the pen and pad again
Could throw me in the trashbin, still shine like platinum
Tortoise and the hare, in the end the tortoise catches him
But that was partly ignorance and partly perseverance
That’s how I feel when I do shit without no interference
Wish I could say I’m fearless, I try to maintain the appearance
But deep down I’m skittish, the model lacking coherence
The diamond in the rough put on the rack reserved for clearance
Thank God for my stupidity acting as my major adherence

For all of the time I’ve spent with these rhymes
For all the people in my life who are truly friends of mine
For all the shit that I’ve suffered just to get where I am
For all the stupid motherfuckers who simply hated my plan
For all the things I’ve done so I can get on my grind
For all the shit I’ve did in this fucked-up life of mine
For all the time I coulda spent doin’ somethin’ else
I just remind myself sometimes these are the cards that I was dealt

It’s just a major part of the personality I’ve developed
Never give up on anything no matter how better well-off
I’d be if I did, from material things like my car and my kicks
To the other aspects of life like my choice of career or a bitch
That I like, but whatever, not like I plan on really livin’ my life
Past a certain point, 40 to be exact, sorta sad that I hope that I die
Right when life’s ripe, but every tragedy brings closure
Prince and the pauper, elegance in a raggedy composure
If I could rewind the hands of time and sands in hourglasses
And sit back and think about shit as all that time re-passes
I’d still be in the same boat that I am now, Titanic
Sinking, but for some reason I’m the violinist who shows no panic
At least outwardly, I love rap wholly, pourin’ out on beats
I could never share this with anyone in the world I’ll ever meet
And that’s enough for me, it shit-sure doesn’t give back
But it’s always there for me to lift me up off of the mat

For all of the time I’ve spent with these rhymes
For all the people in my life who are truly friends of mine
For all the shit that I’ve suffered just to get where I am
For all the stupid motherfuckers who simply hated my plan
For all the things I’ve done so I can get on my grind
For all the shit I’ve did in this fucked-up life of mine
For all the time I coulda spent doin’ somethin’ else
I just remind myself sometimes these are the cards I was dealt

Never fold, risk-taker, bet-raiser, double-down Aces
Sharper than a razor, my brain’s been to millions of places
Livin’ life in three ages simultaneous
The rhyme-spitter zaniest, put cuffs on chains on wrists
Noone’ll be replacin’ this, knowin’ damn well I’m not the greatest
Feelin’ like a God though, nothin’ to say for the creationist
Better put on a strong face to bluff like I got a strong suit
A knight in armor hardly, inside you know I’m shakin’ in boots
I’m remakin’ the truth outta lies, it’s the youth that I idolize
Clam up when you ask me shit like Three Stooges when they try to pry
You already know the plot, just bury me now and carve my name
In the gravestone, I know I’ll die alone, so someone save me the pain
In the meantime while I’m here, I’ve been havin’ a Hellish year
It shows on my face, haggard, go to shave and see a Gremlin in the mirror
Cash rules everything around me, so I’ma spend it when it’s near
Look inside and see the future like a bitch gettin’ a pap smear

For all of the time I’ve spent with these rhymes
For all the people in my life who are truly friends of mine
For all the shit that I’ve suffered just to get where I am
For all the stupid motherfuckers who simply hated my plan
For all the things I’ve done so I can get on my grind
For all the shit I’ve did in this fucked-up life of mine
For all the time I coulda spent doin’ somethin’ else
I just remind myself sometimes these are the cards I was dealt