The Rose that Grew from Concrete

[Tupac Shakur]
You try to plant something in the conrete
Y’know what I mean?
If it grow
And the and the rose petal got all kind of
Scratches and marks, you not gon’ say, 
“Damn, look at all the scratches and marks 
On the rose that grew from concrete”
You gon’ be like
“Damn! A rose grew from the concrete?!”
Same thing with me
Y’know what I mean? 
I grew out of all of this
Instead of sayin
“Damn, he did this, he did this,”
Just be like
“Damn! He grew out of that? 
He came out of that?”
That’s what they should see
Y’know what I mean?
All the trouble to survive
And make good out of the dirty, nasty
Y’know what I mean
Unbelievable lifestyle they gave me
I’m just tryin to make somethin..

[Nikki Giovanni]
When no one even cared
The rose it grew from concrete
Keepin all these dreams
Provin nature’s laws wrong
It learned how to walk without havin feet
It came from concrete

Did you hear about the rose 
That grew from a crack in the concrete?
Provin nature’s laws wrong 
It learned how to walk without havin feet
Funny it seems but, by keepin its dreams
It, learned to breathe fresh air
Long live the rose that grew from concrete
When no one else even cared
No one else even cared
The rose that grew from concrete

Did you hear?
Did you hear about the rose 
That grew from a crack in the concrete?
Provin nature’s laws wrong
It learned to walk without having feet
Funny it seems but by keeping its dreams
It learned to breathe fresh air
Long live the rose that grew from concrete
When no one else, even cared

[Nikki Giovanni]
Keepin all these dreams
Provin nature’s laws wrong
It learned how to walk without havin feet 
(to breathe the fresh air)
It came from concrete 
(to breathe the fresh air)
(to breathe the fresh air)
(to breathe the fresh air)

[Tupac Shakur]
You see you wouldn’t ask 
Why the rose that grew from the concrete
Had damaged petals
On the contrary
We would all celebrate its tenacity
We would all love it’s will to reach the sun
Well, we are the rose
This is the concrete
And these are my damaged petals
Don’t ask me why
Thank God nigga
Ask me how!
Hahahaha