Guess it's all about perspective

I grew up thinking we were good

We were rich...

Then I look back..like...wow

It was really a struggle

It's crazy

Parents be like "do what I say, not what I do,"

That's the clearance to proceed and go and act a fool

I used to sneak sips of brew

Brag about it to the kids at school

Pretending that my momma never cared about

My well being or whereabouts

Family arguments, no shame, I would air it out

My intention was immersion

But it was obvious that my acting out

Was serving as diversions

Think the year was maybe 9-1

Mom had two jobs when most couldn't find one

And I got A's without effort

While all the other homies would stray without shepherds

They say the devil's playground is idle time

So I would stay around the house, try to write a rhyme

Mom got in round 6AM

And if my homework wasn't out, it was mayhem

Even if we had none I would tell her that I had some

And go and get some math done

No dad, cause he up and split

We open up the oven door to heat up the crib

Cold; wasn't an athlete

Only time I ran was to avoid

Getting my ass beat

Trying to make friends with all the bad see

11 years old with acne

They call me the Latchkey Kid

And there it is

CHORUS

You better come straight home

Anybody knocks on the door, just say

Keep the living room straight, don't touch that stove

And don't let anybody tell you we broke

You better come straight home

Anybody knocks on the door, just say

Keep the living room straight, don't touch that stove

And don't let anybody tell you we broke

Cause we gon' be alright

It was almost instant respect

To see a shiny Kwikset key around a kid's neck

That meant he had the house to himself

Which almost meant he outgrew the belt

And I was truly raised by a village

Cause if they caught me slippin' I would get it

Inexplicably so frickin hard headed

Then when my mom came home she hit me harder

Made the beating double

Every day borrow sugar from the neighbor's house

Watching TV over there because our cable's out

My Game Boy it was my prized posession

Everyday I learned quick how to dodge a question

Like, "Y'all aight? I know your moms is stressing"

She would say that every setback provides a less

Gas bills in collection

Supply Side Economics got us all regressing

And I'm armed with nothing with my ambition

We ain't poor, just in transition

Up in church with my hands risen

Praying lord can you hear my transmission

Forgive my transgressions...

Same story as last week

It's kinda funny if you ask me

How poverty can make you mad deep

And in the corner that's me

12 year old with acne they called me the Latchkey

Kid

CHORUS

You better come straight home

Anybody knocks on the door, just say

Keep the living room straight, don't touch that stove

And don't let anybody tell you we broke

You better come straight home

Anybody knocks on the door, just say

Keep the living room straight, don't touch that stove

And don't let anybody tell you we broke

Cause we gon' be alright