What we gon' do right now is go back, way back
  Bring in the groove
    I wanna dedicate this to those who never made it
  From kindergarten to the 12th I never graduated
  Yo but college wasn't for some of us
  So we joined the service
  I seen a kid get murdered in Nam listening to Elvis
  But on the out looking in
  Things stay the same
  But at the same vein
  Looking out the whole world's changed
  So keep your head up
  Don't get caught up in the fast bucks
  And find your mom crying while your lying in a black tux
  Trust me
    We don't need no education says a young man
  Sitting in class (sitting in class)
  School is out 3 o'clock on the dot
  He had beef with some kids and he got shot, oh Lord
    Turn on the television
  I'm watching Martin Luther King who had a dream, oh
  So take this dream and apply it to your life
  Even though we know the ghetto's rough
  But we got to
    [1] - Keep your head up
  (Uh keep your head up)
  Cause a new day will come
  (Uh-huh, uh-huh)
  And look towards the sun
  (Look towards the sun)
  Even when the darkness shall come
    (Ooh) It's real son
  (Ooh) To my people living Life it's real son
    I turn the page
  What's the news today
  People getting fired, walking on a wire
  Looting on the streets cause the kid's gotta eat
  Oh, oh turn around and look at the hour glass
  I gotta get it straight
  Before it's too late
  Cause I don't wanna be behind that gates
    Keep your head up
  (Uh keep your head up)
  Cause a new day will come
  (Uh-huh, uh-huh)
  And look towards the sun
  Even when the darkness shall come
    [2] - All my people in the back
  Mama, mama
  You know you raised me with no father figure
  (Didn't ya)
  I wanna take this time to thank you
  For giving me life, oh yeah
  Mama, mama
  You know you raised me with no father figure
  (Didn't ya)
  I wanna take this time to thank you
  Even though I'm doing Life
  Alright
    (Ooh) It's real son, alright
  (Ooh) Can't flee
  (Ooh)All my people doing time
  (Ooh)People in the back playing cards
  (Ooh)Don't lose your money yeah
  Yeah tell them don't lose your money, c'mon, c'mon
    [Repeat 1]
    [Repeat 2]
    (Ooh) For my people doing time (alright)
  (Ooh) For my people doing time (alright)