I Can Lyrics by Nas

0:07I know I can

0:10Be what I wanna be

0:13If I work hard at it

0:15I'll be where I wanna be

0:17I know I can (I know I can)

0:19Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

0:21If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)

0:24I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

0:26Be, b-boys and girls, listen up

0:29You can be anything in the world, in God we trust

0:32An architect, doctor, maybe an actress

0:34But nothing comes easy, it takes much practice

0:37Like, I met a woman who's becoming a star

0:39She was very beautiful, leaving people in awe

0:41Singing songs, Lena Horne, but the younger version

0:44Hung with the wrong person, got her strung on that heroin

0:46Cocaine, sniffing up drugs, all in her nose

0:49Could've died, so young, now looks ugly and old

0:51No fun 'cause when she reaches for hugs, people hold their breath

0:54'Cause she smells of corrosion and death

0:57Watch the company you keep and the crowd you bring

0:59'Cause they came to do drugs and you came to sing

1:01So if you gonna be the best, I'ma tell you how

1:04Put your hands in the air, and take the vow

1:07I know I can (I know I can)

1:09Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

1:12If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)

1:14I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

1:17I know I can (I know I can)

1:19Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

1:21If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)

1:24I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

1:27Be, b-boys and girls, listen again

1:29This is for grown-looking girls who's only 10

1:32The ones who watch videos and do what they see

1:34As cute as can be, up in the club with fake ID

1:37Careful, 'fore you meet a man with HIV

1:39You can host the TV like Oprah Winfrey

1:42Whatever you decide, be careful, some men be

1:44Rapists, so act your age, don't pretend to be

1:47Older than you are, give yourself time to grow

1:50You thinking he can give you wealth, but so

1:52Young boys, you can use a lot of help, you know

1:54You thinking life's all about smoking weed and ice

1:57You don't wanna be my age and can't read and write

1:59Begging different women for a place to sleep at night

2:02Smart boys turn to men and do whatever they wish

2:04If you believe you can achieve, then say it like this

2:07I know I can (I know I can)

2:10Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

2:12If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)

2:14I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

2:17Now, go

2:18I know I can (I know I can)

2:20Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

2:23If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)

2:25I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

2:28Be, be-fore we came to this country

2:30We were kings and queens, never porch monkeys

2:33There was empires in Africa called Kush

2:35Timbuktu, where every race came to get books

2:38To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans

2:41Asian, Arabs and gave them gold, when

2:43Gold was converted to money it all changed

2:45Money then became empowerment for Europeans

2:48The Persian military invaded

2:50They heard about the gold, the teachings, and everything sacred

2:53Africa was almost robbed naked

2:55Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships

2:58Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went

3:01He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces

3:03Shot up they nose to impose what basically

3:05Still goes on today, you see?

3:08If the truth is told, the youth can grow

3:10They'll learn to survive until they gain control

3:13Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes

3:16Read more, learn more, change the globe

3:18Ghetto children, do your thing

3:21Hold your head up, little man, you're a king

3:23Young Princess when you get your wedding ring

3:26Your man is saying "She's my Queen"

3:28I know I can (I know I can)

3:31Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

3:33If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)

3:35I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

3:38I know I can (I know I can)

3:40Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)

3:43If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)

3:46I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

4:00Save the music, y'all

4:02Save the music, y'all

4:05Save the music, y'all

4:07Save the music, y'all

4:10Save the music