I Never Knew
Aceyalone Lyrics

See I never really new life could be so hard
I was never aware that life could be as challenging as it is.

I never really new pain til I got scared
I had never experienced pain prior to moments when I was frightened.

I never knew people could be so cold
I was unaware that people could lack humanity and act cruelly towards others.

I never knew wrong til I was ten years old
I had not learned about actions that can be considered immoral or unethical until I was ten years old.

I never knew fighten til I got my ass kicked
I had never been in a physical altercation until I was defeated.

I never knew gettin' got til I got tricked
I was unfamiliar with situations where I was conned or cheated until I was a victim myself.

I never knew healthy til I got sick
I did not appreciate my well-being until I fell ill and had health issues.

And I never knew people killed people so quick
I was not aware of the swiftness with which some people resort to violence or murder.

Yo, I never knew mind power could be so deep
I underestimated the strength of one's thoughts and their influence on life.

And I never knew hardship was mine to keep
I did not foresee the extent of the difficult times that lay ahead for me.

And I never knew the wolves attack the sheep in their sleep
I was naive about the predatory nature of some individuals who prey on the vulnerable.

And I never knew people played people so cheap
I did not realize that some people manipulate or exploit others unfairly.

Yo, I never knew that we was in such bad shape
I was not aware of the dire state that our society or community was in.

And I never knew what I would have to do for the papes
I did not anticipate the extent to which I would go to secure financial gain or income.

And I never knew that I would put my life on tape
I had no idea that my experiences and thoughts would be documented on audio or video recordings.

And I never knew hip hop would be my escape
I did not expect that music, particularly hip-hop, would provide me with an avenue for self-expression and a means of coping.

See I never knew real folks could be so few
I was not prepared for the reality that genuine and authentic individuals are a rarity.

And I never knew so many people don't got a clue
I was surprised to discover that many people are uninformed or naive about various things in life.

And I never knew beautiful til I met you
I had never encountered true beauty until I crossed paths with you.

But, never say never because it never comes true
It is not wise to make absolute statements or predictions because they often do not come to fruition.

Hey yo, I never knew that some nigga's just don't bury beef
I was unaware that some individuals hold grudges and refuse to resolve conflicts peacefully.

I never knew that I brought you so much grief
I did not realize that my actions or words had caused you significant distress or anguish.

I never knew that you was a two time thief
I was oblivious to the fact that you had stolen from me on multiple occasions.

The way you stole my heart was beyond belief
You won my affection in an incredibly surprising or impressive way.

Yo, I never knew my medicine would come in a leaf
I did not expect that my remedy or treatment would be derived from a plant leaf.

And I never knew that life could be so brief
I was unprepared for the shortness or fleeting nature of life.

And I never knew that I would get no relief
I did not anticipate that I would not find any solace or comfort from my troubles or pain.

I never knew so many Indians that want to be chief
I was surprised by the number of people who desire to be in charge or hold power.

Yo, I never knew the wrong move could cost yo life
I did not realize that a poor decision or action could result in the loss of one's life.

And I never knew the wrong move could cause yo strife
I was unaware that an incorrect or misguided decision could lead to significant conflict or difficulty.

And I never knew money could just buy you fun
I was not cognizant of the fact that wealth could easily buy entertainment or pleasure.

And I never knew so much power came with a gun
I did not realize the significant amount of control or authority that a weapon, specifically a gun, could provide.

Yo, I never knew that I would have such bad luck
I was not anticipating such a streak of misfortune or bad fortune.

And I never knew the next man could get you stuck
I did not expect that another person's actions or decisions could cause me significant difficulty or hardship.

And I never knew lighting til I got struck
I did not comprehend the impact or significance of lightning until I was directly hit by it.

And I never knew that you would go so low for the buck
I was taken aback by how far you were willing to go for financial gain or monetary rewards.

See, I never knew the future would be like the past
I had not considered that the future may resemble the past in certain ways.

And I never knew a woman could just slang that ass
I was ignorant of the fact that a woman could use her sexuality or physical appeal for personal gain or profit.

Yo, I never knew that you were so sassafras
I did not realize how sassy, confident, or bold you were until now.

I never knew that you played the game so fast
I was not aware of how rapidly or effectively you could navigate complex situations or games.

I never knew that there was no time to waste
I did not realize the urgency or importance of not wasting time or delaying action.

And I never knew no one who could take your place
I was not familiar with anyone who could replace or fulfill your role or significance in my life.

Yo, I never knew reality til you showed me a taste
I had not experienced or comprehended the true nature of reality until you offered me a glimpse of it.

And I never knew how you made my heart beat race
I was amazed at how you could evoke intense emotions and passions in me.

Yo, I never knew courage until I got brave
I did not recognize or appreciate my own bravery until I acted courageously.

And I never knew discipline until I behaved
I had not understood the importance or effectiveness of self-discipline until I exercised it myself.

And I never knew freedom until I became a slave
I was not aware of the significance and value of my freedom until I was confined or enslaved in some capacity.

And I never knew that I would take this to the grave
I had not anticipated that something would affect me so deeply or permanently that I would carry it with me to my death.

Yo, I never knew that I had so much to lose
I was not aware of the extent of what I had to lose, including potential consequences or negative outcomes.

And I never knew I had so many to choose
I did not realize the vast array of options or choices available to me.

And I never knew an ego was so easily bruised
I was surprised by how quickly one's ego could be harmed or injured.

And I never knew the game until I studied the rules
I was unfamiliar with the intricacies and nuances of a certain situation or game until I learned the rules governing it.

Never say never because it never comes true
It is not wise to make absolute statements or predictions because they often do not come to fruition.

I never knew that I would be about the revenue
I had not anticipated that money or financial gain would become one of my primary motivations or goals.

Oh, I never knew that you didn't know what they was telling you
I was surprised to learn that you were unaware of certain information or knowledge that others had attempted to convey to you.

I never knew this about the heaven and the hell in you (ha yeah)
I was not aware of certain aspects or dimensions of your personality or character, specifically the positive and negative elements.