Lessons in What Not to Become

When I was a kid my daddy got mad And slammed me against the wall Sometimes I got shook Sometimes I got hit For losin' my temper at all Didn't dare say, Look at you, man Blowin' your stack like that I hadn't been taught the word hypocrite yet But I already knew what it meant This is a lesson in what not to become Lessons in what not to be come Sometimes that means me Can't please everyone Tryin' to live by a code I can stick to I'm a fuck up just like you But it's better than not trying at all. Early on I knew To learn from the mistakes Of people I most admire Crazy-ass times Wish I was that wild But the drugs snuffed out the fire All that talent fried and blackened Senile at 25 I'll never be as dope as you But at least I'm still alive Another lesson in what not to become Lessons in what not to become For some mouths that's me Can't please everyone Tryin' to live by a code I can stick to Sometimes it's as easy as Not lettin' things happen to you Yeh, your mom and I Had such a great time when we were your age Makin' love, gettin' high Wild in the streets almost every day But now that you're that age Just Say No But take your Ritalin If you still turn out wrong It's all your music's fault Breaks my heart to see When someone born to lead Gets so paranoid they're crazy Agree with all I say Or you're the enemy & there ain't no in between Drown like Captain Ahab Trying to slay that Great White Whale So tied up in their own rules People jump ship and they fail This is a lesson in what not to become Another lesson in what not to become Another Lesson Lessons in what not to become For some mouths that's me Can't please everyone Tryin' to live By a code I can stick to I ain't 100% pure To the point of being miserable