One we know
I once knew this youngin I forget was his name was
I once knew this youngin I forget was his name was
He was the oldest of 3
Lil' sis and a little brother
Same old song raised by a single mother
His schoolin' is third rate
Only in second but he should be in 3 rd grade
Or was it 4 th can't remember it escapes me
Didn't have a clue that his little life was crazy
All I knew was in class
He would spaz
Could sit for a minute
Throw a fit before ya' finish
Wanted the best for him
And I was tough on him
Until my boss told me the deal
His momma worked hard
Scooped the kids straight from her job
And would black out soon as they got home
No spouse
He was the little man of the house
Fixem dinner and put 'em to bed on his own
How
So in school when he would act wild
It's because it's the only he had to be a child
Wow
I once knew this youngin I forget was his name was
I once knew this youngin I forget was his name was
He was a lil' playa
Some say a trouble maker
'Cause he would act a fool
Came to see me after school
Said he wanna change
Told him that it's never out of range
Long as you ain't scared to work for it
Fast forward
He was in a gang fight
Over something petty it ain't right
But he came clean when he came to me
So I tried to get his folks
To let him stay with me
At the center
Said I could work with 'em help to prevent a
Situation like this from happening again but
His step- dad wasn't trying to hear me at all
He was fed up and said that it was the last straw
Tried to check up on 'em they wouldn't return my call
What's that about
When we spoke man we had it out
'Cause they told me that they him committed
Hurt me to my soul man I have to admit it d**n
I once knew this youngin I forget was his name was
I once knew this youngin I forget was his name was
It feels like the world's against you
And I can't imagine the hell you been through
When they put you down
Don't give up
If they knock you down
Then you gotta get up get up
I struggle to remember your name
But just know I never will forget your pain
When they put you down
Don't give up
If they knock you down
Then you gotta get up get up get up
Ain't too many days I meet
A young man that's born with HIV
I was there speaking on diversity and poetry
But you seemed to be more into art
Asked you to write what you felt didn't know where to start
So you chose to draw from the heart
You were a young man in the body of a child
Who wouldn't let a disease rob you of your smile
Nowadays that type of courage is rare
The words that you hear
Can never compare
To the struggle you face day in and day out
Every single day prayin' for a way out
See there's one too many youth like the 3 I spoke on
No one cuttin' slack but fightin' to hold on
Maintain youngin's in these troublin' times
And I care because your struggle is mine one love
I once knew this youngin I forget was his name was
I once knew this youngin I forget was his name was
