Keep Ya Head Up
2Pac Lyrics

Little somethin' for my godson Elijah and a little girl named Corin
This song is dedicated to my godson Elijah and a young girl named Corin, who represent all the children in need of love and support.

Some say the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice
There is a belief that darker-skinned people have a richer and stronger cultural heritage.

I say the darker the flesh then the deeper the roots
I believe that those with darker skin have a stronger connection to their ancestry and cultural roots.

I give a holler to my sisters on welfare
I want to show my support and recognize the struggles faced by women living on welfare.

Tupac cares, if don't nobody else care
I want to remind everyone that I, Tupac, genuinely care about the well-being of others, even when no one else seems to do the same.

And uh, I know they like to beat ya down a lot
I understand that you often face oppression and mistreatment from others.

When you come around the block, brothas clown a lot
There are men who mock and disrespect you when you are present.

But please don't cry, dry your eyes, never let up
I encourage you not to shed tears, to persevere in the face of adversity, and to remain strong.

Forgive but don't forget, girl, keep your head up
It is important to forgive those who wrong you, but to also remember the lessons learned and continue to hold your head high.

And when he tells you you ain't nuttin' don't believe him
When someone tries to belittle and diminish your worth, don't let their words discourage and define you.

And if he can't learn to love you, you should leave him
If someone cannot appreciate and love you for who you are, it is better to walk away from that relationship.

'Cause sista you don't need him
You should realize that you are strong and capable on your own, and you don't depend on anyone else to define your worth.

And I ain't tryin' to gas ya up, I just call 'em how I see 'em (you don't need him)
I'm not trying to flatter or deceive you; I am simply speaking my honest perspective, which is that you deserve better.

You know me makes me unhappy? (What's that?)
Do you want to know what saddens me?

When brothas make babies
It upsets me when men father children but don't take responsibility for them.

And leave a young mother to be a pappy (oh, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Leaving a young mother to fulfill both the roles of mother and father.

And since we all came from a woman
Considering that every person is born from a woman, we should respect and honor them.

Got our name from a woman and our game from a woman (yeah, yeah)
Women contribute to our identity and provide guidance and lessons in life.

I wonder why we take from our women
I question why we sometimes exploit and mistreat the women who have given us so much.

Why we rape our women, do we hate our women? (Why? Why?)
It is disheartening to see women being victimized and violated, which begs the question of whether there is hatred involved.

I think it's time to kill for our women (why? Why? Why? Why?)
We need to figuratively 'kill' the negative attitudes and actions towards women in order to protect and uplift them.

Time to heal our women, be real to our women
We must focus on healing and supporting the women in our society and treat them with genuine respect and love.

And if we don't we'll have a race of babies
If we don't change our ways, future generations will inherit the same harmful attitudes and behaviors towards women.

That will hate the ladies, that make the babies (oh, yeah, baby)
It is distressing to imagine a future where children grow up hating the women who brought them into the world.

And since a man can't make one
Acknowledging that men are incapable of giving birth.

He has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one
Therefore, men should not have the authority to dictate to women their reproductive choices.

So will the real men get up
I am calling on the truly honorable and respectful men to take a stand.

I know you're fed up ladies, but keep your head up
I understand that women are frustrated and tired of the mistreatment, but I urge them to stay strong and resilient.

Keep ya head up, ooh, child, things are gonna get easier
Stay positive and hopeful, as things will eventually improve and become more manageable.

Keep-keep ya head up, ooh, child, things'll get brighter (ohh)
Continue to maintain a positive outlook, as the future holds brighter prospects and opportunities.

Ayo, I remember Marvin Gaye, used to sing to me
I have fond memories of listening to Marvin Gaye's music, which inspired and brought me comfort.

He had me feelin' like black was the thing to be
Marvin Gaye's music made me proud of my black heritage and identity.

And suddenly the ghetto didn't seem so tough
Through Marvin Gaye's music, I found solace and hope even in the midst of the struggles in the ghetto.

And though we had it rough, we always had enough
Despite the hardships we faced, we managed to have the essentials and find contentment.

I huffed and puffed about my curfew and broke the rules
I would complain and rebel against the limits imposed on me, pushing boundaries and disobeying rules.

Ran with the local crew, and had a smoke or two
I associated myself with the neighborhood group, engaging in activities like smoking marijuana.

And I realize momma really paid the price
I came to understand the sacrifices my mother made for my well-being.

She nearly gave her life, to raise me right (oh, yeah)
My mother endured many hardships and risks to ensure I received a proper upbringing.

And all I had to give her was my pipe dream (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Despite my promising but uncertain aspirations, I couldn't offer my mother much.

Of how I'd rock the mic, and make it to the bright screen
I held onto my dream of becoming a successful musician and being recognized in the spotlight.

I'm tryin' to make a dollar out of fifteen cents
I am struggling to make the most out of very limited resources and opportunities.

It's hard to be legit and still pay your rent
Living an honest life and fulfilling responsibilities can be challenging when financial burdens weigh heavily.

And in the end it seems I'm headin' for the pen
Despite my efforts, it feels like I am destined for a life behind bars, possibly referring to incarceration.

I try and find my friends, but they're blowin' in the wind
I struggle to maintain strong relationships as my friends seem unreliable and ever-changing.

Last night my buddy lost his whole family
Recently, my friend tragically lost his entire family in a devastating event.

It's gonna take the man in me to conquer this insanity (no, no, no, no)
Overcoming these difficult and chaotic circumstances will require me to find strength within myself.

It seems the rain'll never let up
The hardships and challenges I face appear to be never-ending, like an incessant rainstorm.

I try to keep my head up, and still keep from gettin' wet up
I strive to maintain a positive mindset and avoid being dragged down by the negative influences around me.

You know, it's funny when it rains it pours
It is ironic that when one problem arises, more difficulties and setbacks tend to follow.

They got money for wars, but can't feed the poor
It is disheartening that society prioritizes spending on wars and conflicts rather than addressing the issue of poverty and hunger.

Said it ain't no hope for the youth and the truth is
There is a prevailing belief that there is no promising future for young people, and unfortunately, it is true in many cases.

It ain't no hope for the future
The prospects for the future seem bleak and without promise.

And then they wonder why we crazy
People question why there is so much mental instability and unrest, but fail to recognize the factors contributing to it.

I blame my mother for turning my brother into a crack baby
I hold my mother responsible for my brother's addiction and the consequences he faced as a result.

We ain't meant to survive, 'cause it's a setup
The system is designed in a way that makes it incredibly difficult for individuals like us to thrive and succeed.

And even though you're fed up
Despite feeling frustration and exhaustion,

Huh, ya got to keep your head up
You must remain strong and resilient.

To all the ladies havin' babies on they own
This is a message of support and empathy to all the women who are raising children alone.

I know it's kinda rough and you're feelin' all alone
I understand that it's challenging, and you might experience feelings of isolation.

Daddy's long gone and he left you by ya lonesome
The father of your child has been absent, leaving you to handle everything on your own.

Thank the Lord for my kids, even if nobody else want 'em (left you all by yourself)
You may feel abandoned, but be grateful for your children, as they bring you joy and purpose, even when others don't appreciate them.

'Cause I think we can make it, in fact, I'm sure
I believe that you and your children can overcome the challenges and succeed, and I am certain of it.

And if you fall, stand tall and comeback for more
Even if you face setbacks, always rise above them and come back stronger.

'Cause ain't nothin' worse than when your son
There is no greater pain than when your own child

Wants to know why his daddy don't love him no mo'
Yearns to understand why his father no longer loves him.

You can't complain you was dealt this
You can't lament the hand you were given

Hell of a hand without a man, feelin' helpless
It's an extremely difficult situation to be a single mother without a partner, feeling powerless and vulnerable.

Because there's too many things for you to deal with
You have an overwhelming number of responsibilities and challenges to face.

Dying inside, but outside you're looking fearless
Although you may be struggling internally, you present a confident and fearless facade to the world.

While the tears is rollin' down your cheeks
You shed tears of frustration and sadness

Ya steady hopin' things don't all down this week
You remain hopeful that everything doesn't fall apart during this difficult time.

'Cause if it did, you couldn't take it, and don't blame me
If everything were to unravel, you might not be able to handle it, and in that case, don't hold me responsible.

I was given this world I didn't make it
I am simply a product of this world, and I am not responsible for its flaws and hardships.

And now my son's gettin' older and older and cold
As time passes, my son is growing more distant and emotionally detached.

From havin' the world on his shoulders
Feeling burdened and overwhelmed by the weight of the world and its expectations.

While the rich kids is drivin' Benz
Meanwhile, privileged children are driving luxury cars.

I'm still tryin' to hold on to my survivin' friends
I am still clinging to the friendships I have left, struggling to maintain a support system.

And it's crazy, it seems it'll never let up, but
The situation feels chaotic and unrelenting, but

Please, you got to keep your head up
I implore you to remain strong and maintain a positive attitude.