Every Ghetto, Every City

I was just a little girl Skinny legs a press and curl My mother always thought I'd be a star But way before my reocrd deal The streets that nurtured Lauryn Hill Made sure that I'd never go too far Every ghetto every city and suburban place I've been Make me recall my days in the New Gerusalem Story stars at Hootaville grew up next to Ivy Hill When kids were stealing quartervilles for fun Kill the guy in Carter park Rode a Mongoose 'til it's dark WAtching kids show off the stolen ones Every ghetto every city and suburban place I've been Make me recall my days in New Jerusalem You know it's hot don't forget what you've got Looking back Looking back looking back looking back You know it's hot don't forget what you've got Looking back Looking back Looking back Looking back A bag of Bontons twenty cents and a nickel Springfield Ave had the best popsicles Saturday morning cartoons and KungFu Main street roots tonic with the deds A beef patty and some coco bread Move the patch from my Lees to the tonguie of my shoe 'Member FrelingHuysen used to have the bomb leather Back when Doug Fresh and Slick Rick were together looking at the crew we thought we'd all live forever You know it's hot don't forget what you've got Looking back Looking back looking back looking back You know it's hot don't forget what you've got Looking back Looking back Looking back Looking back Drill teams on Munn street Remember when Hawthorne and Chancellor had beef Moving Records was on Central Ave I was there at dancing school South Orange Ave at Borlin Pool Unaware of what we didn't have Writing your friends' names on you jeans with a marker July 4th races off of Parker Fireworks at Martin stadium The Untouchable PSP where all them crzy niggers be And car thieves got away though Irvington Hillside brings beef with the cops Self Destruction record drops And everybody's name was Muslim Sensations and '88 attracted kids from out of state And everybody used to do the wop Jack Jack Jack ya body Nah the Biz Mark used to amp up the party I wish those days they didn't stop Every ghetto every city and suburban place I've been Make me recall my days in New Jerusalem You know it's hot don't forget what you've got looking back looking back looking back looking back You know it's hot don't forget what you've got Looking back looking back looking back looking back You know it's hot don't forget what you've got looking back looking back looking back looking back looking back looking back looking back looking back looking back looking back looking back looking back looking back looking back looking back looking back looking back looking back looking back looking back