Mama always told me don't let myself get caught

Don't want to see me alone and turned out

Living dangerous has a gruesome price

Puts your soul into a lonesome light

Respect yourself because there's no one else who respect you

And if you don't then they won't

You get put into a mould, labelled a loosie, an avenue hoochie

I'm all about me, living my life right cause life is a treasure

Dis peer pressure, I gotta be me

Can't be the rest of them

Grow and show that I can flow with the best of them

Never try to be shady, a lady

Money go and [?] don't amaze me

I'm not living to be wed

Before I commit I'll establish a one on one with myself

One-by-one we can make it, [?]

If we are to be as one

One-to-one, it's not hard to relate to

If you open up your heart

Love one by one

Back in the day when I was in high school

Time was mine and my mind was a tool

All work and no play said Jack

Apply yourself said dad, but get back

I had to hang with the girls in the mall

Parties all night was yes yes y'all

Homework can't [?] me

After cramming all night

At school I would sleep

Wasn't thinking of life's pop quiz

Or the real world or school was preparing me to outgrow

Until senior year rolled up

And everything but my grades I'd rolled up

Now I come about life [?]

Suddenly hanging with the girls was no go

I started getting to class on time

Doing homework and using my mind and now

I'm fine

One-by-one we can make it, can't fake it

If we are to be as one

One-to-one, it's not hard to relate to

If you open up your heart

Love one by one

Thinking back to when coming up wasn't much brother

Rode the hood so in me you thought you couldn't trust

Steady talking to your friends dripping off what they say

Dripping off the he say she say babe

I think we would have a debate, kick back chill

And maybe we could set things straight

I'm not all about the hiding duck

You know the time honey quit with the games

I'm not [?]

Why you want to come off half-cocked out to me

You know I'm acting through to your record shop [?]

Kicking it, with benny making plenty, so honey

Dial my beeper or my corner when you wanna get with me

And you could chill like god be on the down low

Parlay, parlay like grand poobahs say anyway

So don't clip off your no-nonsense friends flow

Cause if you don't, I'mma have to let you know

One-by-one we can make it, can't fake it

If we are to be as one

One-to-one, it's not hard to relate to

If you open up your heart

Love one by one

Love one by one

We can make it if we try (love one by one)

Love (love one by one)

Love one by one

Love one by one

We can make it you and me

Love one by one

Love one by one

Love one by one