Nas - I Can Lyrics

Complimentary "I Can" Ringtone

[Kids] 
I know I can (I know I can) 
Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be) 
If I work hard at it (If I work hard it) 
I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be) 

[Nas] 
Be, be, boys and girls, listen up 
You can be anything in the world, in God we trust 
An architect, doctor, maybe an actress 
But nothing comes easy it takes much practice 
Like, I met a woman who's becoming a star 
She was very beautiful, leaving people in awe 
Singing songs, Lena Horne, but the younger version 
Hung with the wrong person 
Got her strung off the heroin 
Cocaine, sniffin' up drugs, all in her nose 
Could'a died, so young, now looks ugly and old 
No fun, 'cause now when she reaches for hugs people hold they breath 
'Cause she smells of corrosion and death 
Watch the company you keep and the crowd you bring 
'Cause they came to do drugs and you came to sing 
So if you gonna be the best, I'ma tell you how 
Put your hands in the air, and take a vow 

[Chorus 2X: Nas] + (Kids) 
I know I can (I know I can) 
Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be) 
If I work hard at it (If I work hard it) 
I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be) 

[Nas] 
Be, be, boys and girls, listen again 
This is for grown-looking girls who's only ten 
The ones who watch videos and do what they see 
As cute as can be, up in the club with fake ID 
Careful, before you meet a man with HIV 
You can host the TV like Oprah Winfrey 
Whatever you decide, be careful, some men be 
Rapists, so act your age, don't pretend to be 
Older than you are, give yourself time to grow 
You're thinking he can give you wealth, but so 
Young boys, you can use a lot of help, you know 
You thinkin' life's all about smokin' weed and ice 
You don't wanna be my age and can't read and write 
Begging different women for a place to sleep at night 
Smart boys turn to men and do whatever they wish 
If you believe you can achieve, then say it like this 

[Chorus] 

[Nas] 
Be, be, before we came to this country 
We were kings and queens, never porch monkeys 
There was empires in Africa called Kush 
Timbuktu, where every race came to get books 
To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans 
Asian Arabs and gave them gold when 
Gold was converted to money it all changed 
Money then became empowerment for Europeans 
The Persian military invaded 
They heard about the gold, the teachings and everything sacred 
Africa was almost robbed naked 
Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships 
Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went 
He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces 
Shot up they nose to impose what basically 
Still goes on today, you see? 
If the truth is told, the youth can grow 
They learn to survive until they gain control 
Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes 
Read more, learn more, change the globe 
Ghetto children, do your thing 
Hold your head up, little man, you're a king 
Young princess when you get your wedding ring 
Your man is saying, "She's my Queen" 

[Chorus] 


Save the music y'all, save the music y'all 
Save the music y'all, save the music y'all 
Save the music

Complimentary "I Can" Ringtone

lyrics submitted by b gautam
lyrics corrected by EditorR on 02-11-2007