[Produced by Robin Thicke]

[Intro: Robin Thicke]

We are at war with the universe

The sky is falling

And the only thing that can save us now

Is sensitivity and compassion

Da, da, da, da-da-da, da, da, da

Da, da, da, da-da-da, da, da, da (Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)

But I know one thing's for sure

I'm gonna get my kicks before it all burns down

(Ooh-ooh-ooh)

[Verse 1: Lil Wayne]

Yeah, some say tragedy's hard to get over

But sometime that tragedy means it's over

Soldier, from the academy league of rollers

I deny being down though they seem to hold us

My shoulders are strong, I prove 'em wrong

I ain't doing nothing but moving on, let the truth be known

But they talked that freedom at us

And didn't even leave a ladder, damn

[Verse 2 Robin Thicke]

I work at the corner store

We all got problems, problems

No one's gonna fly down low

No one's gonna save us now

How you feel, you're not alone

We're all just jealous, jealous

We don't reach the sky no more

We just can't overcome, no

[Chorus: Robin Thicke]

You tie my hands, what am I gonna be?

What have I done so bad? What is my destiny? (Oh-oh-oh)

You tie my hands, what am I suppose to see?

What have I done so bad? (What have I done) What am I gonna be?

[Verse 3: Lil Wayne]

I, knock on the door, hope isn't home

Fate's not around, the luck's all gone

Don't ask me what's wrong, ask me what's right

And I'ma tell you what's life, and did you know

I lost everything? But I ain't the only one

First came the hurricane, then the morning sun

Excuse me if I'm on one

And don't trip if I light one, I walk a tight one

They try tell me keep my eyes open

My whole city underwater, some people still floating (Oh)

And they wonder why black people still voting (Ooh)

'Cause your president still choking (Oh yeah)

Take away the football team, the basketball team

Now all we got is me to represent New Orleans, shit (Yeah, yeah)

No governor, no help from the mayor

Just a steady beating heart and a wish and a prayer (Yeah, yeah)

Let's pray

[Verse 4: Robin Thicke]

These friends, they come and go

But I got family, family

These kids so fast they grow

They learn so quickly now

That there's nowhere to go

That there's no future, future

Don't make this here so low

And we can't overcome, no

[Chorus: Robin Thicke]

You tie my hands, what am I gonna be? (What am I gonna be?)

What have I done so bad? (Oh) What is my destiny? (What have I done?)

You tie my hands (What have I done?), what am I supposed to see? (What have I done?)

What have I done so bad? (Ooh) What am I gonna be? (Oh, oh)

[Verse 5: Lil Wayne and Robin Thicke]

Yeah, and if you come from under that water then there's fresh air

Just breathe, baby, God's got a blessing to spare (Oh)

Yes, I know the process is so much stress (Oh, come on, baby)

But it's the progress that feels the best

'Cause I came from the projects straight to success, and you're next

So try, they can't steal your pride, it's inside (Oh, woah)

Then find it and keep on grinding (Woah)

'Cause in every dark cloud, there's a silver lining, I know

[Interlude: Lil Wayne and Robin Thicke]

Yeah, yeah, yeah (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)

See, right now we just riding on love, huh

(Take that money, make that money)

A shot in the dark

(Take that money)

We ain't tryin' to do nothing but hit the heart

(I can't wait to stop the wait, all of it)

We need love

(Love, okay)

That's all y'all, that's all

[Chorus: Robin Thicke and Lil Wayne]

You tie my hands, what am I gonna be?

(Yeah, born right here in the USA)

What have I done so bad? (What have I done?) What is my destiny? (What have I done?)

(But, due to tragedy, looked on by the whole world as a refugee)

You tie my hands, what am I suppose to see? (Tie me up)

(So accept my emotion)

What have I done so bad? (Tie me up) What am I gonna be? (Oh, oh-oh)

(Do not take it as an offensive gesture)

You tie my hands, what am I gonna be?

(It's just the epitome of my soul)

What have I done so bad? What is my destiny? (Oh, baby)

(And I must be me, we got spirit y'all, we got spirit)

You tie my hands, what am I suppose to see?

(We got soul y'all, we got soul)

What have I done so bad? What am I gonna be?

(They don't want us to see, but we already know)