Not Lost
B.o.B Lyrics

Just because I'm losing doesn't mean I'm lost
Just because things aren't going well for me, it doesn't mean I have lost my direction or purpose

They gave me nothing but doubt
Many people doubted my ability to succeed

First they waited then hated then counted me out
At first they waited to see if I would fail, then they started to hate on me, and then they expected me to fail

Just because I'm losing doesn't mean I'm stuck
Just because things aren't going well for me, it doesn't mean I am trapped and unable to change my situation

They say I lost my way
Some people think that I have lost my direction and purpose

But first I showed em then I sold em Right in front of their face
I showed everyone what I am capable of and proved them wrong, and I did it all while they were watching

Well this is the world that we living
This is the reality of the world we live in

One minute you the hero the next you the villain
You can go from being praised and loved to being criticized and hated in an instant

We got up in this game just to try to make a living
We got into this industry with the goal of making money and providing for ourselves and our loved ones

We hit you with the truth while you watching television
We give people honest and real experiences through our music, even though they may be distracted by other things like television

But still these are the cards that we dealt
Regardless of the circumstances we were born into, we have to make the best of our lives

They kick you on the ground when you most need help
People often turn their back on you and bring you down when you need their support the most

Until you dried up and they sit you on the shelf
People will often use you for as long as they can, until they no longer find you useful and discard you

Then you start to cry because you all by yourself
You will feel alone and helpless when you are abandoned by those who you thought had your back

So just know if you are aware of the belt
You need to be mentally prepared and ready for the challenges that come your way

The only way to excel is the soul that you sell
You may have to sacrifice your values and morals in order to be successful in this industry

So I could care less about the clothes on myself
Material possessions and outward appearances are not important to me

I'm trying to drive straight on a road made of nails
I am trying to navigate a difficult path with many obstacles

Yeah, I got to pay the toll if I fell
I may experience consequences if I make a mistake or fail

Or else it would be another story to tell
I will learn from my mistakes and use them to become stronger and wiser

I'm getting to the door I can tell
I am getting closer to my goals and dreams

I'm just waiting on the day till the glory prevails
I am waiting for the day when all of my hard work pays off and I achieve the success that I have been working towards

All I know is keep going, shit don't stop
My only choice is to keep pushing forward, even when things get tough

Until the huss double up put the click on top
I will continue to work hard until I reach the top

Used to wanna have the bricks on lock
I used to want to be a drug dealer and control the drug trade

Til we went to prison saw we couldn't pick them locks
I realized that a life of crime was not the path for me when I went to prison and saw that there was no way out

Easy decision now a n-gga think I lost my touch
It was an easy decision to choose a different path, but some people now think that I have lost my abilities or skills

Listen if I ain't the realest ever done it I ain't off by much
I am one of the realest and most authentic artists out there

So please don't wake me up if I'm dreaming in the fast lane speedin' no safety belt
I am living my dream and I don't want anything to interrupt it

And it's a marathon pace yourself
Success is not achieved overnight, it requires time and patience

In this race for wealth talkin' shit just a waste of breath
Talking negatively about others or focusing on hate is not productive in the pursuit of wealth

Chasing me like chasing your tail your never gon catch it
Trying to keep up with me and my success is pointless and a waste of time

Tespect is something you never get if you never had it
If you have never shown respect to others, you will never receive it in return

I'm looking back and laughing this life of mine
I am able to look back on my life and appreciate how far I have come and what I have accomplished

Bought me all the way here form my life of crime
Even though I had a troubled past, it has brought me to where I am now

Just a constant reminder that the end I'll be always the one who knows all see's all
My past serves as a reminder that I will always have the ability to see things from a different perspective and remain vigilant

Yeah, well these are my predictions
These are my expectations for my future

I'll be on the top 40 with a big hit
I will have a hit song that will reach the top 40 charts

Travelling the world trying not to get sick
I will travel around the world to perform and promote my music

And I'ma get more friends on my friends list
I will gain more fans and followers on social media

And then after that I'll be famous
Once I have achieved my goals, I will become famous

And everyone I know will tell me that I'm changing
Some of the people I know may accuse me of changing once I become famous

And then my cell phone will never stop ringing
I will receive a lot of phone calls and messages from people who want to work with me or talk to me

And I'll be all over magazine pages
I will be featured in many magazines and publications

Yeah and they'll play my songs till they boring
My songs will be played on the radio so much that people will get tired of hearing them

And if I ever do stop touring they treat me like a foreigner
If I ever stop performing, people will act like they don't know who I am

Don't believe me, ask Lauren...
I am not the only artist who has experienced this type of treatment, just ask Lauren Hill