[Verse 1]

Born 7-8-1982 coming at you live

But dead cause I'll die the second I'm out this sound booth

A sight for soaring eyes, living normal story lives

The old tale that be like "Oh well, it's before your time"

14 years down the line since I wrote my first rhymes

It feels great, I'm glad I made myself wait like past lives

The Deity got hired, fired, then back as a re-hire

Tired of jobs, ready to grind til I retire

[Hook]

I don't know what I'm doing, I keep my eyes on the prize (x3)

[Verse 2]

Born again southern California, orphan in origin

From orchids to scorpions metamorphing my audience

Sorry if it gets obvious or if it gets boring just already know

It'll all be over soon as I'm done recording this

Daddy was a Vietnam vet Mommy was a convict

"Mike we already know, man. Why don't you just get off it"

Well I'm being honest with the topic of hardship

Kingdom come God sent freedom don't run from no conflict, but:

[Hook]

[Verse 3]

I promised my friends I'd have ends to spend with them

I promised my bigger brothers they'd see they youngest of us win

I promised my crew Doomtree would compare to nothing

I promised Lazerbeak I'd come back to Minneapolis hungry

I promised my family that this was just the man in me

I promised my girl the world but only gave her insanity

I promised myself good health, wealth and consciousness

Then I promised to God I was gonna keep all my promises, but

I don't know what I'm doing, I keep my eyes on the prize

To my surprise, fought people twice my size

I don't know what I'm doing. I keep my eyes on the prize

To your surprise, struggle would get to many lives

I don't know what I'm doing, I keep my eyes on the prize

And you can't always get what you want

But when you've wanted it for so long and you get it it's gotta be good...

[Breakdown]

I think I'm gonna throw away the chains from my heart

Cause lately I've been feeling like I'm free

I think I'm gonna give myself a brand new start

Oh, get back to my roots and be me

[Verse 4]

From a phoenix to a dove

Till they pull me up above

TIll they fill me full of slugs

Till the feel me in your club

I would never give it up

I could never give this up

I would never give it up

I could never give this up (x2)

I keep my eyes on the prize, I will never give it up (x3)

I got my eye on the prize, I would never give it up

From a phoenix to a dove

Till they pull me up above

TIll they fill me full of slugs

Till they feel me in your club

I would never give it up

I could never give this up

I would never give it up

I could never give this up

From a phoenix to a pigeon to a dove

Till my 6 feet's been dug til they pull me up above

Til the flames surround me, til they drown me

I could never give it up

I will never give this up