I got something I want y`all to do
Take a look around
Take a look around, take a look around and ask yourself: Why?
See all those people on the other side of town, livin large and postin high?
Take a look around, see that bumrush to this liquor store?
He sold out of Thunderbird, but I got to say more
Take a look around as the wealthy and rich
Go to plush parties and do-si-do together, ain`t that a bitch?
Cause they`re movin on while most of us sit back complainin
Bout, Ain`t nuff opportunities for our people, like it`s always rainin
But take a look around, cause I see plenty of sunshine in the sky
Maybe next time, instead of complainin, you go out and get a piece of the pie
Take a look around
Take a look around
Take a look around as more young people take their eyes off the prize
See my man Simon talkin bout he`s gonna put a kit
And a rag-top on that 560 S-E-C he buys?
Take a look around at the music man on the corner playin his sax
Fillin the air with jazz
He`s a one-man symphony, see that 2 dollars in change in his hat?
Yo, that`s all that brother has
This is just a little letter about the situations we live in
Take a look around and realize: to succeed we just can`t give in
Now take a look around
Hey brother, take a look around
Hey sister, take a look around
Now money made is not necesserally money earned
But those who earn money seem to have a lot less
And not very often are those tables ever turned
But then again, money`s not a measure of success
The power of 3, you see, is ever present
Slide and ride this groove, to get the meanin
Only a true king can call someone a peasant
You hold a microphone, but for a throne I find you fiendin
Pursuit of happiness and money are not the same
There is some overlap, but they`re still separate goals
Because it`s possible to have one without the other, a shame
Some don`t realize it, so they sell away their souls
Take a look around
Take a look around
As I walk through Grand Central I see so very many
Brothers and sisters that are down on their luck
Is there really pie, and they just aren`t gettin any?
Or is it cause they`re lazy and they just don`t give a fuck?
Walkin through the park I see Bam-Bam playin celo
4-5-6, Bam just lost 3 g`s and a kilo
Who says they only play for kicks?
Take a look around
Take a look around
I remember Jackie, when Jackie was a hottie
Jeans used to fit her like the skin upon a grape
Me and every other brother fiened for her body
But she`s smokin, so now look at her shape
Now Mrs Green goes to church like every single Sunday
And she had three sons, Ron, Mike and Dale
Maybe if she`d done a little bit more than just pray
Ron wouldn`t be dead, and the other two, they wouldn`t be in jail
I remember Mr. Tee, he used to walk with a limp
He had a wooden leg, y`know, cause he lost it in the war
Maybe if this country had made some attempt
To take care of their veterans, Mr. Tee, he wouldn`ta have to die poor
Take a look around
Hey - brothers, sisters
Take a look around
