The childhood part of my life wasn't very pretty

You see I was born and raised in the slums of the city

It was a one room shack we slept in the children beside me

We hardly had enough food or rooms

It was a hard time

Needed somethin' to ease my troubled mind

Ooooh listen

Father didn't know the meaning of work

He disrespected mama and treated her slightly

I left home seekin' a job that I never did find

The first thing downhearted I took to cloud 9

I'm doin' fine up here on cloud 9

Listen one more time

I'm doin' fine up here on cloud 9

Folks now tell me

They say give yourself a chance

And don't let life pass you by

But the world around you is a rat race

Where only the strong survive

It's a dog eat dog world and that ain't no lie

It ain't even safe no more

To walk the streets at night

Oh baby go down

What you mean