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 NoR
 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