Pray (It’s a Shame)

[Intro: Joe Budden]
Lord, please continue to guide, direct, and protect my niggas
From the world, and from themselves

[Chorus: Joe Budden, Unknown Vocalist]
Lord, can you please shine that light on your sons?
They sent you a million prayers, you ain't answered near one
Oh, it's a shame, baby baby
It's a shame
I'm down on both knees, Father, talk to 'em please
All you put 'em through is pain, will it ever cease?
Oh, it's a shame, baby baby
What a shame

[Verse 1: Joell Ortiz, Unknown Vocalist]
Yaowa
What up, world? I'm Joell
Sixth floor, project door, broke bell
Only child, no brother, no sis
Mom's runnin' out the door to go sniff
My high water pants don't fit
Afro growin' all wild, no pick, man
Oh, it's a shame, baby baby
Is what my teacher said for class pics
My pops? I don't know where he at
He left one day, he said he'd be back
The stove keep me warm in the winter
I'm tired of Beefaroni for dinner
My grandmom's got a bad liver
I'm just watchin' her fade away
Man, I don't know what else to say
So at the end of every day I pray, I say

[Chorus: Joe Budden, Unknown Vocalist]
Lord, can you please shine that light on your sons?
They sent you a million prayers, you ain't answered near one
Oh, it's a shame, baby baby
It's a shame
I'm down on both knees, Father, talk to 'em please
All you put 'em through is pain, will it ever cease?
Oh, it's a shame, baby baby
What a shame

[Verse 2: Royce Da 5'9", Unknown Vocalist]
What up, world? I'm the shit
I'm headed to Hell in a handbasket
I pop pills, abuse liquor, and kill niggas
When I die, God ain't gon' judge, he gon' deal with us
That's why them reckless quotes come with my drama
My pops put coke-infested cum in my momma
Oh, it's a shame, baby baby
I know, right?
For those nights that I was havin' them seizures
For those mornings that I was havin' trouble breathin', c'mon listen
I was only a fo'-pound baby
So I grew up into grown and went fo'-pound crazy
Daddy was gangsta, mommy was passive
Boxin' gloves for Christmas, I needed classes
My daddy beat our ass, that's probably why we assassins
But he'll do anything for me
Joey, pray for me

[Chorus: Joe Budden, Unknown Vocalist]
Lord, can you please shine that light on your sons?
They sent you a million prayers, you ain't answered near one
Oh, it's a shame, baby baby
It's a shame
I'm down on both knees, Father, talk to 'em please
All you put 'em through is pain, will it ever cease?
Oh, it's a shame, baby baby
What a shame

[Verse 3: Crooked I, Unknown Vocalist]
What up, world? I'm a lost soul
Challengin' the devil standin' at the crossroads
I just shot a dirty snake with my .38
He shot me too, now I'm waitin' at the Pearly Gates
I seen the angel Gabriel and I came real
A lame tried to kill me, so I aim steel
Oh, it's a shame, baby baby
Ask God is that somethin' that he can't feel
I had a six-shot popper and I brought it with me
I put his thinkin' cap somewhere he never thought it would be
I didn't son him, he's a daughter to me
Instead of hangin' with thugs, he's slangin' drugs, shoulda got a college degree
But growin' up in the hood'll leave your mind baffled
We put haters in the past like time travel
That's my murder story, I'm past purgatory
I need prayer though, Joey, put a word in for me

[Chorus: Joe Budden, Unknown Vocalist]
Lord, can you please shine that light on your sons?
They sent you a million prayers, you ain't answered near one
Oh, it's a shame, baby baby
It's a shame
I'm down on both knees, Father, talk to 'em please
All you put 'em through is pain, will it ever cease?
Oh, it's a shame, baby baby
What a shame