Life Goes On
2Pac Lyrics

How many brothers fell victim to the streets?
Wondering how many people died due to street violence and gang activity.

Rest in peace, young nigga, there's a heaven for a G
Acknowledging the loss of life and hoping for peace in the afterlife.

Be a lie if I told you that I never thought of death
Admitting that death is a real possibility and a constant thought on their mind.

My niggas, we the last ones left, but life goes on
Reflecting on the loss of friends and loved ones, but continuing to live despite it.

As I bail through the empty halls, breath stinkin' in my jaws
Describing a scene of loneliness and isolation, perhaps after the loss of friends or loved ones.

Ring, ring, ring, quiet, y'all, incomin' call
Interrupted by a phone call, breaking the solitude and bringing them back to reality.

Plus this my homie from high school, he gettin' by
Talking to an old friend who is still managing to survive in difficult circumstances.

It's time to bury another brother, nobody cry
Acknowledging another loss of life and expressing resignation and numbness towards it.

Life as a baller: alcohol and booty calls
Reflecting on the hedonistic lifestyle of a successful young person, with a focus on partying and casual sex.

We used to do 'em as adolescents, do you recall?
Reminiscing about old times and youthful indiscretions.

Raised as G's, loc'ed out, and blazed the weed
Describing a life of gang activity and drug use.

Get on the roof, let's get smoked out, and blaze with me
Inviting others to join in drug use and reckless behavior.

Two in the morning and we still high, assed out
Revealing the reckless and irresponsible behavior that characterizes their lifestyle.

Screamin', 'Thug 'til I die!' before I passed out
Asserting their loyalty to their gang and their lifestyle, even in moments of unconsciousness.

But now that you're gone, I'm in the zone
Reflecting on the absence of a friend and feeling disconnected and alone.

Thinkin' I don't wanna die all alone, but now you gone
Feeling afraid of dying alone, especially in the wake of a friend's death.

And all I got left are stinkin' memories
Reflecting on the past and feeling overwhelmed by the pain of loss.

I love them niggas to death, I'm drinkin' Hennessy
Coping with the pain of loss through alcohol and nostalgia.

While tryin' to make it last
Trying to hold onto memories and preserve the essence of what is lost.

I drank a fifth for that ass when you passed, 'cause life goes on
Acknowledging the loss of a friend and using alcohol to cope, but also recognizing that life must go on.

Yeah nigga, I got the word it's hell
Receiving news of a friend's imprisonment and the ensuing difficulties of a life behind bars.

You blew trial and the judge gave you 25 with an L
Describing the harsh sentence and sense of loss that accompanies a prison sentence.

Time to prepare to do fed time, won't see parole
Acknowledging the difficulties and bleak outlook associated with a long prison sentence.

Imagine life as a convict that's gettin' old
Reflecting on the difficulties and sense of hopelessness that comes with aging in prison.

Plus with the drama, we're lookin' out for your baby's mama
Describing the additional difficulties and responsibilities that come with imprisonment, particularly with regards to family and loved ones.

Takin' risks, while keepin' cheap tricks from gettin' on her
Protecting loved ones and their children from harm or exploitation, even in difficult circumstances.

Life in the hood is all good for nobody
Acknowledging the harsh realities and difficulties of life in impoverished neighborhoods.

Remember gamin' on dumb hotties at yo' party
Reminiscing about youthful behavior and frivolous activities, before circumstances changed.

Me and you, no truer two, while schemin' on hits
Remembering a close friendship and partnership with a friend.

And gettin' tricks that maybe we can slide into
Describing the reckless and often unethical behaviors that characterize the gang lifestyle, including stealing and conning.

But now you buried, rest, nigga, 'cause I ain't worried
Showing respect for and acknowledgement of a lost friend, despite the difficulties that remain.

Eyes blurry, sayin' goodbye at the cemetery
Describing the emotional scene of a funeral and the sense of loss that remains afterwards.

Though memories fade
Acknowledging the transience of memory and the fading of the past.

I got your name tatted on my arm
Committing to the memory of a friend, by permanently marking their body with a tattoo of their name.

So we both ball 'til my dyin' days
Pledging loyalty to a lost friend and promising to live life to the fullest in their honor.

Before I say goodbye
Reflecting on the inevitability of death and saying farewell.

Kato and Mental, rest in peace! Thug 'til I die!
Calling out the names of lost friends and showing respect and loyalty, even in death.

Bury me smilin' with G's in my pocket
Awash in the hedonistic lifestyle and showing bravado by boasting about being buried with money and drugs on their person.

Have a party at my funeral, let every rapper rock it
Embracing the idea of a wild and raucous party in their honor after death, with many appearances from hip-hop stars.

Let the hoes that I used to know
Showing a lack of respect for women and describing past sexual conquests with an inappropriate and derogatory term.

From way befo' kiss me from my head to my toe
Describing an idealized scene of everyone who ever mattered to them showing up and expressing physical affection towards them.

Give me a paper and a pen, so I can write about my life of sin
Purging their soul through artistic expression and documenting the negative and sinful aspects of their life.

A couple bottles of gin, in case I don't get in
Describing a pragmatic and hedonistic approach to dealing with the fear of death, by enjoying alcohol in the meantime.

Tell all my people I'm a ridah
Asserting their loyalty and dedication to the gang lifestyle, even in death.

Nobody cries when we die, we Outlawz, let me ride
Boasting about their gang affiliation and rejecting the notion that people should mourn them when they die.

Until I get free
Holding onto the possibility of freedom or release, despite their own understanding of the unlikelihood of it.

I live my life in the fast lane, got police chasin' me
Describing the reckless and dangerous lifestyle they lead, complete with criminal activity and brushes with the law.

To my niggas from old blocks, from old crews
Offering a shout-out and honor to long-standing and respected friends from their past.

Niggas that guided me through back in the old school
Reflecting on the importance of trusted friends and mentors and how they have shaped their life.

Pour out some liquor, have a toast for the homies
Honoring the memory of lost friends or loved ones through a traditional act of pouring out alcohol as a libation.

See, we both gotta die, but you chose to go before me
Reflecting on the randomness of life and death, and how some people are taken from the world before others.

And brothers miss you while you gone
Acknowledging the loss and pain of those left behind after a friend's death.

You left your nigga on his own, how long we mourn? Life goes on
Reflecting on the difficulties of continuing life without someone who was once a close friend or ally, while acknowledging that life must eventually continue.