When We Were Friends

I was me, my nigga
The only one there that would be my nigga
Ain't gotta go far to be free, my nigga
But you don't have to follow me, my nigga
Oh yeah, I still love my nigga
And I ain't gon' stop just because, my nigga
If any pass it always does, my nigga
And I always remember what it was, my nigga

When we were friends, the days would begin and end
Went from boys to men, but boys 'til then
We know each other real, we know each other rules
And we wore each other clothes, had each other shoes
But in an instant, the days become distant
Your path doesn't go in the same direction his went
And can't help but be scared
Of the virtually unknown up ahead
But I'll be fine
Whether it is favor or failure, it must be mine
But he can stand still, if that's how that man feel
Cause what can't can't and whatever can will
So I'm walking toward the future with my back to it
Hoping you look up and see me as a reason to do it
When you get grown, it's a given
You damn near got to do the same thing for a living

And my cousin, I love him like a son, cause I was him
And he think his thuggin' pleases me, but it doesn't
How could I applause it when I caused it
But if it's God's plan for him, I guess I ain't cost shit
But what I gave him wasn't so bad I couldn't save him
Either they'll enslave him or a gun'll grave him
I still believe in him, but he think I'm leaving him
When I be busy, he think I'm bob and weaving him
I probably sound like his daddy
But over the phone, cause I ain't around, like his daddy
When we talk, I wanna hear you be productive
Conversate for hours 'bout something constructive
But it never come up
With all them niggas 'round your neck, you ain't gon' never come up
Maybe I'm jealous cause you love them more
Can't understand what you love them for
Don't get me wrong, you know I love them too
But you know who I always hold above them, you
And it ain't nobody business
I'll just make believe that music can miraculously mend this
So I'll be a sound
And then you do your thing to it and we mix it down
And make a song, my nigga
Cause even when I'm away, I'll always be around