Eminem - Stepping Stone

[00:10.47] It's 2002, everything was totally new

[00:12.47] We were globally huge, watching sales go through the roof

[00:14.97] We wrote and we viewed it, Runyon Avenue soldiers included

[00:17.47] A multitude of homies who would bounce for no good excuse

[00:20.22] We were so bulletproof, wrote, souped and soaked in our youth

[00:22.99] Thought we was runnin' shit 'til we lost the sole of our shoe

[00:25.24] The death of Doody broke us in two

[00:28.22] We were thrown for a loop, ain't none of us know what to do

[00:30.72] And at the time I was goin' through my own struggles too

[00:33.49] So I wasn't in no condition to be coachin' us through

[00:36.23] Everyone tried to go solo, really nobody blew

[00:38.72] I was hopin' they do so I ain't have to shoulder the group

[00:41.73] The plan was put everyone in position so that they knew

[00:44.49] How to stand on they own and I don't want to open up wounds

[00:47.00] I just noticed the oomf was gone when we go in the booth

[00:49.72] 'Cause the truth is, the moment that Proof died, so did the group

[00:52.47] If I could leave this all behind

[00:57.24] I could open up my eyes and walk in a straight line

[01:03.47] Turn to the river with you

[01:08.24] Help me leave this all behind

[01:12.97] I'ma wash away my sins

[01:15.22] I'ma rinse away this dirt

[01:17.97] I forgot to make amends

[01:20.48] To all the friends I may have hurt

[01:23.23] I better stop and say my grace

[01:25.73] From that I pray that I don't fall

[01:28.22] 'Cause on the way back down I may

[01:30.97] End up runnin' back into them all

[01:33.74] I never meant to use you all as my stepping stones

[01:36.23] It was never the same, and it's bothered me since

[01:42.97] And the farther we drift apart, the more awkward it gets

[01:45.72] The more time goes by, the more life happens

[01:47.47] And we gotta be men, we got responsibilities

[01:51.22] Plus we don't say how we feel, and I feel like this is what got us in

[01:53.97] The debacle we're in, been with you guys thick and thin

[01:56.22] But it's almost as if sometimes we're not even friends

[01:58.97] Which reminded me Biz, Rockstar was the shit

[02:01.72] Y'all coulda got you a hit without me on the shit

[02:04.47] If you've put D12 on it, wish I coulda did

[02:07.00] More than try talkin' you into comin' up off of it

[02:09.73] I know it wasn't my fault, but part of it probably is

[02:11.47] I think of all of the trips to BET and the rappers

[02:14.22] I wish that we woulda politicked with

[02:16.47] Maybe y'all coulda clicked and got you some features

[02:19.24] But that's water under the bridge

[02:21.23] But I'm washin' my sins in it 'til my conscience is clear

[02:22.99] If I could leave this all behind

[02:27.98] I could open up my eyes and walk in a straight line

[02:34.22] Turn to the river with you

[02:38.72] Help me leave this all behind

[02:43.72] I'ma wash away my sins

[02:45.97] I'ma rinse away this dirt

[02:48.74] I forgot to make amends

[02:51.22] To all the friends I may have hurt

[02:53.74] I better stop and say my grace

[02:56.72] From that I pray that I don't fall

[02:59.22] 'Cause on the way back down I may

[03:01.97] End up runnin' back into them all

[03:04.72] I never meant to use you all as my stepping stones

[03:11.72] Bacardi in hand, never thought the party would end

[03:14.23] One minute you're bodyin' shit, but then your audience splits

[03:16.72] You can already sense the climate is startin' to shift

[03:19.22] To these kids you no longer exist

[03:21.22] Went from rainin' cats and dogs in this bitch

[03:22.97] To tiny drops full of drips

[03:24.72] And by the time your reign is over, you'll hardly be missed

[03:26.47] You start thinkin' of all the artists you gift, all the carnage you left

[03:31.22] Is this the kinda karma you get

[03:32.72] For turnin' your fuckin' back on Bizzy, Kuniva and Swift?

[03:35.23] A Freudian slip, subconsciously, I honestly wished

[03:37.97] I ain't feel so much guilt and y'all didn't harbor resentment

[03:40.76] But it's hard to pretend that y'all ain't got none of this

[03:43.22] Wish I had words

[03:44.47] But I guess they're just honored for this

[03:45.97] Still, my point is I just can't say how sorry I am

[03:48.47] This is not how I planned for our story to end

[03:50.97] I love all of you, men

[03:52.72] But I just can't be the guy

[03:53.97] Everybody depends on for entire careers

[03:56.22] 'Cause that's not even fair

[03:57.99] I will always be here, but that spark isn't there

[04:00.73] And I don't know how to recapture that time and that air

[04:03.22] I've tried hearkening back to but I'm fighting for air

[04:05.97] I'm barely chartin' myself

[04:07.24] Feels like I'm on the descent, but it was not my intent

[04:09.97] To treat y'all like a stepping stone

[04:12.22] Though I ain't left no one behind

[04:13.72] But we been down every road, done all we possibly can

[04:16.49] I know we kept our hopes up

[04:18.98] But the longer we spend livin' this lie that we live

[04:20.98] The less is left for closure, so let's let this go

[04:22.22] It's not goodbye to our friendship, but D12 is over

[04:26.24] I'ma wash away my sins

[04:30.22] I'ma rinse away this dirt

[04:33.22] I forgot to make amends

[04:35.72] To all the friends I may have hurt

[04:38.47] I better stop and say my grace

[04:41.73] From that I pray that I don't fall

[04:43.47] 'Cause on the way back down I may

[04:45.97] End up runnin' back into them all

[04:48.72] I never meant to use you all as my stepping stones

[04:51.72] I never meant to make you feel like my stepping stones

[05:00.47] I never meant to use you all for my stepping stones