I Can

[00:07.37] I know I can

[00:10.63] Be what I wanna be

[00:12.89] If I work hard at it

[00:14.88] I'll be where I wanna be

[00:17.01] I know I can (I know I can)

[00:19.51] Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

[00:22.26] If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)

[00:24.76] I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

[00:27.01] Be, b-boys and girls, listen up

[00:29.75] You can be anything in the world, in God we trust

[00:32.51] An architect, doctor, maybe an actress

[00:35.01] But nothing comes easy, it takes much practice

[00:37.51] Like, I met a woman who's becoming a star

[00:39.75] She was very beautiful, leaving people in awe

[00:42.26] Singing songs, Lena Horne, but the younger version

[00:44.76] Hung with the wrong person, got her strung on that heroin

[00:47.75] Cocaine, sniffing up drugs, all in her nose

[00:50.26] Could've died, so young, now looks ugly and old

[00:52.24] No fun 'cause when she reaches for hugs, people hold their breath

[00:55.51] 'Cause she smells of corrosion and death

[00:57.51] Watch the company you keep and the crowd you bring

[00:59.76] 'Cause they came to do drugs and you came to sing

[01:02.50] So if you gonna be the best, I'ma tell you how

[01:05.00] Put your hands in the air, and take the vow

[01:07.77] I know I can (I know I can)

[01:09.99] Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

[01:12.51] If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)

[01:15.01] I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

[01:17.51] I know I can (I know I can)

[01:20.00] Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

[01:22.50] If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)

[01:25.00] I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

[01:27.51] Be, b-boys and girls, listen again

[01:30.48] This is for grown-looking girls who's only 10

[01:33.02] The ones who watch videos and do what they see

[01:35.01] As cute as can be, up in the club with fake ID

[01:37.75] Careful, 'fore you meet a man with HIV

[01:40.26] You can host the TV like Oprah Winfrey

[01:42.99] Whatever you decide, be careful, some men be

[01:45.51] Rapists, so act your age, don't pretend to be

[01:48.25] Older than you are, give yourself time to grow

[01:51.01] You thinking he can give you wealth, but so

[01:52.76] Young boys, you can use a lot of help, you know

[01:55.50] You thinking life's all about smoking weed and ice

[01:58.00] You don't wanna be my age and can't read and write

[02:00.74] Begging different women for a place to sleep at night

[02:02.74] Smart boys turn to men and do whatever they wish

[02:05.51] If you believe you can achieve, then say it like this

[02:08.01] I know I can (I know I can)

[02:10.26] Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

[02:12.76] If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)

[02:15.25] I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

[02:18.01] Now, go

[02:18.74] I know I can (I know I can)

[02:20.51] Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

[02:22.99] If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)

[02:25.52] I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

[02:28.01] Be, be-fore we came to this country

[02:30.51] We were kings and queens, never porch monkeys

[02:33.25] There was empires in Africa called Kush

[02:35.73] Timbuktu, where every race came to get books

[02:38.26] To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans

[02:41.01] Asian, Arabs and gave them gold, when

[02:43.50] Gold was converted to money it all changed

[02:46.01] Money then became empowerment for Europeans

[02:48.51] The Persian military invaded

[02:50.50] They heard about the gold, the teachings, and everything sacred

[02:53.49] Africa was almost robbed naked

[02:55.74] Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships

[02:58.51] Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went

[03:01.26] He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces

[03:03.51] Shot up they nose to impose what basically

[03:06.51] Still goes on today, you see?

[03:08.50] If the truth is told, the youth can grow

[03:10.99] They'll learn to survive until they gain control

[03:13.50] Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes

[03:16.15] Read more, learn more, change the globe

[03:18.65] Ghetto children, do your thing

[03:21.13] Hold your head up, little man, you're a king

[03:23.89] Young Princess when you get your wedding ring

[03:26.41] Your man is saying "She's my Queen"

[03:28.91] I know I can (I know I can)

[03:30.91] Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

[03:33.41] If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)

[03:35.90] I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

[03:38.40] I know I can (I know I can)

[03:40.89] Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

[03:43.65] If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)

[03:46.16] I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

[03:59.41] Save the music, y'all

[04:01.79] Save the music, y'all

[04:04.29] Save the music, y'all

[04:06.78] Save the music, y'all

[04:09.03] Save the music