I Remember
Coolio Lyrics

When I was a kid I rode crates on a skate
As a child, I would ride on a skateboard made of crates.

And I ate everything momma put on my plate
I would eat any food that my mother cooked for me.

Niggaz walked around packin B B guns
People used to walk around with BB guns as toys.

Knock on yo' door and run just for fun
Kids used to knock on people's doors and then run away for the sake of entertainment.

We went to the sto' and sold bottles fo' a nickel
We used to go to the store and sell empty bottles for a five-cent coin.

To feast upon a big bag of Cheetos and a pickle
We would enjoy eating a large package of Cheetos along with a pickle.

You could get a soda foe less than quarter and
Sodas costed less than twenty-five cents in those days.

People used to speak even if they didn't know ya
People would talk to others and start conversations even if they were strangers.

We fought in the streets like little black soldiers
We used to fight in the streets like soldiers as kids.

Shake hands, and still be friends when it was over
We would shake hands and still maintain a friendly demeanor after our fights.

We used to play tag and, hide and go seek, or
We used to play games like tag or hide and seek during our childhood.

Hide and go get it if we had a few freaks, but
We would play a game called hide and go get it if there were some girls around.

Now thangs changed, kids ain't the same
Kids are different nowadays compared to when I was young.

They bang, and slang, and blow out brains
Kids nowadays are more involved in violence and gang activity which can often be fatal.

I wish I could go back but, wishin is for suckers
Although I wish I could go back in time, it's not a realistic expectation.

Life was so simple then
Life used to be much easier and straightforward when I was young.

I remember (I remember) ohhhhhhh
I have vivid memories of those times.

When we used to hang
We used to spend time together.

On the porch, drinkin brew
We would drink beer while sitting on the porch or outside.

And now they drive-by (bay-bee)
However, things are different now and there are more drive-by shootings than before.

When we used to play
We used to play games with each other.

Shoot-em-up, up and down
We would play shooting games where we would run and duck.

But now they gang-bang (bay-bee)
Nowadays, there's more gang activity and violence.

Well I remember yesteryear like it was yesterday
I remember my past experiences as if they were yesterday.

Runnin through the streets of Onessa P-A
I would run through the streets of Onessa PA.

I take you through my childhood step by step
I will take you through my memories of my childhood in order.

Daddy always told me to maintain my rep though
My father always advised me to maintain my reputation.

Daddy was a dawg he ain't raise no punks
My dad was a tough person and he raised me to be tough too.

In the midst of the trees we learned how to thump
When I was young, I learned how to fight in the woods.

At the tender age of nine momma put us on a plane
When I was nine years old, my mother put us on a plane to go somewhere.

Next stop -- the land of the insane
We arrived in Compton California, a very dangerous place.

Compton California where the killers grow
Compton California is a place where murderers and killers originated.

Forced to live a life that I didn't know
I was forced to live in a place where I didn't know anyone.

Wore the wrong colors cause I didn't know the facts
I made the mistake of wearing the wrong colors because I didn't know the dangers of doing so.

Call her bitch, caught a case, caught a slug in my back
I got in trouble one time for calling someone a name and got shot in the back as a result.

But I adapted quickly, suckers tried to get me
Despite the difficulties I faced, I learned to adjust and defend myself.

Now the fools better run cause this just driveby Billy
People who try to mess with me should be prepared to experience a driveby shooting as a result.

Little black boy from the East
I was a black child from the East.

Forced to be a killer, but I can still remember
I was pushed into the life of a killer, but I can still recall my past experiences.

Back when I was a kid nigga
When I was young...

We used to have this game called paperball
We used to play a game with a ball made of paper.

(Paperball? What the fuck is that?)
The listener is curious about this game.

Get a piece of paper, ball that motherfucker up
We would crumple up a piece of paper to create the ball.

And play with it! Hahahaha
We would use it as a ball and play with it.

I got Tha Alkaholik juice to wake ya up like a rooster
I have some energizing juice to give you a boost like a rooster crowing at dawn.

Back when I was young, I used to be a booster
When I was young, I would steal things from stores.

Stealin candy from the sto', go to school, come up
I would steal candy from the store and sell it at school to make a profit.

I had the whole playground, chewin all my gum up
I was so successful that everyone at the playground would chew the gum that I sold.

You know what I'm sayin? Playin still to the chest
Do you understand? We would play certain games close to our chest.

And I was the best, playin kickball at recess
I was the best at playing kickball during recess.

I play Pop Warner, golden pairs for the losers
I would play Pop Warner football, and the losers would be punished with push-ups.

We used to hop corners on the fresh deuce cruisers
We used to ride on fresh new lowrider bicycles around the corners.

Playin Galaga, Space Invaders, eatin Reese's
We used to play video games like Galaga and Space Invaders while eating Reese's candy.

I had all the women cause my tough skins had creases
My clothes were so creased and cool that I had all the girls.

And it's been that way since day one
It has always been like that since the very beginning.

Girls of the world ain't nothin but fun
Girls are simply fun to be around.

I used to watch Dr. J, come through in the clutch
I used to watch Dr. J play and score during crucial moments in the game.

Remember New Zoo Review, and Starsky and Hutch
I remember watching some television shows such as New Zoo Review and Starsky and Hutch.

I remember lunchtime, we used to rhyme out loud
During lunchtime, we used to have fun rhyming and making music.

Peace to the Wop and the hip-hop crowd, I remember
Shoutout to the Wop and the hip-hop crowd, I have fond memories of those times.

Ohhh, my life, no no
Oh, my life, no no...

I do remember ohhhhhhhh
I remember things very clearly.

I know you do
I'm sure you have memories too.

I remember yesterday
I have memories from the past.

I remember when we played
I remember playing games during childhood.

aoowwwwwww!
An exclamation of excitement or nostalgia.

Hell, when we used to play
We used to play games during childhood and it was fun.

In ghetto blocks through the dark
We would play games in poor neighborhoods even at night.

Yeah yeah yeah
An expression of agreement, excitement or approval.

We used to play dominoes all night long
We would play dominoes all night long as a pastime.

Yesterday, yesterday
Referring to past memories.

Do you remember yesterday? I remember yesterday
Do you recall the memories? I do.

You remember remember remember remember
You have vivid memories of something.