interpolates lyrics from "Back In The Day" by Ahmad and "Everything I Am" by Kanye West
[Verse 1] I remember Super Soakers, our trampoline Playing with the neighbor kids, what a happy scene Super Nintendo and Gameboy when we had to be, inside because of reasons we couldn’t have foreseen We even caught frogs and once a salamander in our window wells It’s funny ‘cause now they seem empty and long abandoned Or we don’t check anymore to see if they’re still there, oh well And we used to get treats from the ice cream truck we called the ding-ding man, for the bell that would ring, or the song that would spring from that Freeze pops, we called ‘em freezies, in the plastic sleeves We got so high off the sugar it was maddening, our bikes we had to wheel Those were the days
[Chorus] I wouldn’t be here today if the old days didn’t shape my ways ‘cause back in the days when I was young, I’m not a kid anymore But sometimes I think about how things had been back then
[Verse 2] I went to Goodwin Elementary I was the chunky kid, that seemed like hell for me Hot lunch I used to love, but it was junk But most days my dear mama she would pack a lunch Recess, we would scatter and have some fun It wouldn’t last too long but we would laugh and run When we got older it was the Teen Center—sports, arcade games, and greasy pizza, and a movie in front the seats that we’d be on I couldn’t sit for too long, I guess the movie was stupid or, I just wanted to shoot some pool more ‘cause those were the days
[Chorus] I wouldn’t be here today if the old days didn’t shape my ways ‘cause back in the days when I was young, I’m not a kid anymore But sometimes I sit and think how things had been back then
[Verse 3] That sure was the life but we didn’t know it I didn’t know much of poor folks, they didn’t show it We had family vacations, that was bourgeois Because it takes money and time off from the time clock When we would go to church, I didn’t know then— That it would shape my moral stance and the whole thing How was I to know some songs and Sunday School would be so fundamental for a gestational spirit? I guess I took it more serious than the other children— Or made the most out of all those lessons or maybe both things ‘cause here I am after all reminiscing But all I know is it made a mark and I’m grateful for that And ya know what? Life’s as good as it was then So I’ll go on and see where the road bends And where it ends
[Chorus] Damn, here we go again Everything I got made we everything I am Damn
Damn
Damn Common rapped on a beat, I made myself a fan Now everything I got made me everything I am Damn
