Song Lyrics

This here's a ballad for all the fallen soldiers
I'ma 'bout to show you how a hustlers life (this is life man)
And a soldier's life, parallel
And the one thing they got in common is pain (forget about me for a second)
Picture split screen
On one side we got a hustler getting ready for the block (human beings)
Other side you got the soldier getting ready for boot camp (soldiers)
They're both at war (this is life)
Stay with us

Did you ever notice, before you think, life goes fast
So don't you worry, about what you see, it will pass

You lost him mama, the war's calling him
Feel it's his duty to fall in line with all of them
He's a soldier
Rose through the ranks as the head of your house hold
Now its time to provide bank
Like he's supposed to
Now just remember while he's gone 'til November
It's part of him growing up
His shirts soaks up your tears as he holds ya
Your heart beating so fast speeding his pulse up
Yeah, I know it sucks, life ain't all rosebuds
A couple of speed bumps, you gotta take your lumps
Off to boot camp, the worlds facing terror
Bin Laden been happening in Manhattan
Crack was anthrax back then, back when
Police was Al'Qaeda to black men
While I was out there hustling, sinning with no religion
He was off to war killing for a living

Did you ever notice, before you think, life goes fast
So don't you worry, about what you see, it will pass

Days turn to nights, nights turn to years
Years turn to, "How the f*ck we make it in here?"
My barracks average couple fights a day
Get you locked in a hole won't see the light of day
And I feel like I'm just writing my life away
I never thought shit could end up quite this way
There's a war going on outside no man is safe from
I'm here for the good fight only the fakes run
I'm here for the purple heart, if I can't take one
For my team or my siblings what's my reason for living?
I love my niggas more then anything else
This war's about my family, me needin' the wealth
You don't understand how useless as men we felt
'Til you become a 5 star general
Shout out to my niggas that's locked in jail
P.O.W.'s that's still in the war for real, for real

Did you ever notice, before you think, life goes fast
So don't you worry, about what you see, it will pass

Your baby boy is getting grown
So your baby boy is moving on
I've gotta chase (I'm gon' chase it)
And I'm gon' make it (I'ma make it)
Your baby boy is getting grown
So your baby boy is moving on
I'm gonna make it (I'm gon' make it)
Even if I gotta take it, woo, yeah (gotta take it)

Mama say prayer your son's becoming a man
This wars taxing to 'em like Uncle Sam
He ain't gon' always make the right choice, understand
Every choice that he make he makes 'em for his fam
It's death before dishonor
And if he's gone, just honor his memory
Don't cry, we all gon' die eventually
But if he's locked in the penitentiary, send him some energy
They all winners to me (what's up Emory)

Did you ever notice, before you think, life goes fast
So don't you worry, about what you see, it will pass

Chad Hugo, Pharrell Williams, Shawn Carter

The duration of A Ballad for the Fallen Soldier is 4:42 minutes and seconds.