Better Dayz
2Pac Feat. Ron Isley Lyrics

Lookin' for these better days
Searching for a time in life that is filled with positivity and hope

Better days, heyy! Better days
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm about the prospect of better days

Got me thinkin' bout better days
Reflecting on the possibility of a brighter future

Better days! Better days, better days
Emphasizing the desire and need for better days to come

Hey! Better days
A rallying cry for better times to come

Time to question our lifestyle, look how we live
An urgent call to evaluate our way of life and its impact on ourselves and others

Smokin' weed like it ain't no thang, so even kids
Highlighting the normalization of drug use, to the extent that even children might think it's okay

Wanna try now, they lie down and get ran through
Describing the harmful consequences that young people might face when they experiment with drugs

Nobody watches 'em clockin' the evil man do
Noting the lack of attention and intervention when young people are being exploited by dangerous individuals

Faced with the demons, addicted to hearin' victims screamin'
Portraying the difficult reality of those who are exposed to violence and trauma, and the deep-rooted nature of this issue

Guess we was evil since birth, product of cursed semens
Connecting the idea of our tendencies towards wrongdoing to our origins and genetics

'Cause even our birthdays is cursed days
Reflecting on how even the day of our birth can be negatively impacted by the environment and culture we are born into

A born thug in the first place, the worst ways
Describing the fate that some people are born into, with little opportunity for change or growth

I'd love to see the block in peace
Desiring a world where communities are not riddled with violence or turmoil

With no more dealers and crooked cops, the only way to stop the beast
Stating that the root of the problem lies with both those who engage in criminal activity and those who are supposed to protect the community

And only we can change
Asserting that positive change can only come from within the community

It's up to us to clean up the streets, it ain't the same
Taking responsibility for the state of the community, and recognizing that it has deteriorated over time

Too many murders, too many funerals and too many tears
Expressing sadness and grief over the loss of loved ones to violence and crime in the community

Just seen another brother buried plus I knew him for years
Personally reflecting on a recent loss and acknowledging the impact it has had on the community

Pa**ed by his family, but what could I say?
Feeling powerless to offer comfort or solace in the face of tragedy

Keep yo' head up and try to keep the faith
Offering words of encouragement and hope in tough times

And pray for better days
Ending with a call for prayer and positive thoughts for a better future

Thinkin' back as an adolescent, who would've guessed
Reminiscing about one's earlier years and taking stock of the progress made so far

That in my future years, I'd be stressin'
Reflecting on how life hasn't turned out as expected, and experiencing stress as a result

Some say the ghetto's sick and corrupted
Recognizing the challenges and difficulties of living in a marginalized community

Plus my P.O. won't let me hang with the brothers I grew up with
Describing the constraints and limitations imposed by authority figures that further complicate life in the community

Tryin' to keep my head up and stay strong
Working to maintain a positive outlook and resilience despite the difficult circumstances

All my homies slangin' llello all day long, but they wrong
Acknowledging the temptation to turn to illegal activities for survival, but recognizing the harm it causes

So I'm solo and so broke
Feeling isolated and penniless, potentially due to distancing oneself from criminal activity

Savin' up for some Jordan's, 'cause they dope
Setting a personal goal to acquire a luxury item, despite financial strain

I got a girl and I love her but she broke too, and so am I
Being in a relationship with someone who is also struggling financially, and struggling to make ends meet together

I can't take her to the place she wanna go to
Being unable to afford to go to certain places or have certain experiences together

So we argue and play fight, all day and night
Experiencing tension and conflict in the relationship due to financial stress

Makin' pa**ionate love 'til the daylight
Finding refuge in physical intimacy and pleasure despite the difficulties in the relationship

Plus we about to get evicted, can't pay the rent
Facing imminent homelessness due to financial struggles

Guess it's time to see who really is yo' friend
Being forced to confront who is willing to offer support and help in times of crisis

Tell me you pregnant and I'm amazed
Receiving unexpected news of a pregnancy, which adds another layer of complexity to the already difficult situation

So many blessings while we stressin'
Recognizing moments of happiness and hope despite the challenges of daily life

Thinkin for them better days
Maintaining hope for a better future despite the struggles of the present

Now me and you was real cool, hell on them square fools
Revisiting a past friendship that was rooted in rebelliousness and opposition to mainstream norms and values

Since back in high school, we was true, me and you
Reflecting on the depth and longevity of a friendship since teenage years

Hardly parted or separated, we stayed faded
Expressing the strength and consistency of the friendship even through periods of intoxication and drug use

Affiliated with gangbangers and still made it
Proudly acknowledging that despite being associated with gang activity, both individuals still achieved success in their lives

Up in the gym, mess with me, gotta mess with him
Asserting the bond between friends, to the point that they will stick up for each other even in the face of confrontation

Still dressin' like grown men when rollin'
Noting that even though they were young, they were already trying to present themselves as adults with sophistication and style

I went to dark, smokin Newports, gamblin' marks
Recounting a period in life that involved risky behavior, such as smoking and gambling

Got a place in my heart, homey stay smart
Offering advice and support to a friend who is serving time in jail, and maintaining a connection despite the distance

Locked you up in the pen, and gave you three to ten
Describing the harsh reality of the criminal justice system, where a person can be sentenced to years of imprisonment

I send you letters with naked flicks of old friends
Sending letters to a friend in jail that contain explicit photographs, as a way to keep them connected to the outside world

Hopin' you well, I know it's hell
Expressing empathy and understanding for the difficult circumstances of being in jail

Doin time in the cells, you need mail, when you in jail
Recognizing the importance of communication, particularly through receiving letters, when a person is incarcerated

And me I'm doin' cool
Informing the friend that they are doing okay and staying out of trouble

I settled down, had a family, workin' in night school
Reporting on personal achievements and accomplishments, such as starting a family and getting an education

Every once in a while, I reminisce
Reflecting on the past and nostalgic memories

And wonder how we ever came to this
Expressing astonishment or disbelief about the current situation and how different it is from the past

I miss the better days
Expressing longing or grief for times in the past that were better or happier

I send this one out,
Dedicating the song to a specific group of people or individual

To all the homeboys down in uh, Clinton lockdown
Sending the song as a message of support and solidarity to a group of people who are incarcerated

Rikers Island, all them dudes I was uh locked up with,
Mentioning another correctional facility and the people he met there

E Block, F Block, lower H
Listing specific cell blocks or areas within a jail or prison

N-I-C in Rikers Island,
Referring to a specific facility within Rikers Island

Downstate
Mentioning another correctional facility in New York

All the peoples I met along the way
Acknowledging the many people he met throughout his life, including those who were incarcerated

Better days is comin' homeboy, keep your head up
Offering words of hope and encouragement to those who are incarcerated, and suggesting that better times may be ahead