Shattered Dreams

[Verse] Back in them days, sandbox turned into stone Streetlights flicker, mama's tears set the tone Roaches in the corner, hope's a broken wing Dinner off the table, life's a boxing ring [Verse 2] Pops dipped out, left a void in the crib Echoes of laughter, but we learnin' to fib Lesson in the struggle, taught to dodge the pain Rockin' hand-me-downs, chasin' paper planes [Chorus] Years pass by, scars tattoo the soul Dreams can fly, but the road took a toll Rhymes from the pain, beats from the tears Turned my past into gold, outshinin' fears [Verse 3] Echoes of the blocks, where the sirens became our song Where youth lost in hustle, guess we grew up all wrong Lonely nights scribblin', notebook my only friend Dark nights, bright wake-ups never seemin' to end [Verse 4] School of hard knocks, principal's my kin Graduated struggle, majored in the sin Bruised knuckles, tough lessons in the dirt Granny's prayers fightin' to lessen all the hurt [Chorus] Years pass by, scars tattoo the soul Dreams can fly, but the road took a toll Rhymes from the pain, beats from the tears Turned my past into gold, outshinin' fears