The Corner
De La Soul Lyrics

Yo memories of the corner, we huddled and stayed in trouble
As teenagers, we have fond memories of hanging out on the street corner, getting into mischief and causing trouble.

Guzzled on 40 O-Z's and played the double and back
We drank 40-ounce beers and played a game of throwing a ball against the wall and catching it on the rebound.

We doublin crack, no wonder why they fear us
We were involved in selling drugs, which is why people were afraid of us.

We cussin cause our mommas couldn't hear us
We swore and used foul language because our mothers weren't around to hear us.

Young lovers'll cuddle at 15 shit, they seen the struggle so
Even young couples at the age of 15 had to deal with the hardships of life on the street corner.

That makes him a man con-sidered he got plans but
People may perceive a young man with aspirations as mature and manly, but that doesn't mean they understand the struggles he's facing.

She don't understand that this is where them fools bust at
A girl may not comprehend that the street corner is where people engage in criminal activity and potentially dangerous situations.

Same corner where she go and catch the school bus at
Despite the criminal activity, the same corner is still used as a bus stop for school children.

It ain't changed a bit, we stand circle and spit bars
Nothing has changed and we still stand in a circle to rap and create music.

Cigarette butts scattered like glass shattered
The ground is covered in cigarette butts, which look like broken glass.

And pops he play the corner 'til his day comes, DAMN~!
An elderly man is still hanging out on the street corner until the day he dies.

Ambulances on the corner but hey, now it's offi-cial
Ambulances are now a regular sight on the street corner, solidifying its reputation as a dangerous place.

Cisco was the daze them cups of E&J
We used to drink Cisco and E&J, reminiscing about the past.

Went down and hit a warm spot even in the winter's cold
Drinking alcohol made us feel warm, even in the cold winter weather.

We had our snorkel and our winter playboys on
We were prepared for the winter with our snorkel jackets and Playboy brand winter hats.

These are the corners we was sent to play boys on
We grew up playing on these street corners and they became a significant part of our childhood.

Our socks is pockets, the guns is rockets
We carry weapons in our socks and consider them as powerful as rockets.

It's where the after school fight was at, brand new bikes was at
After school, this was the location for fights and the place to show off new bikes.

Fila suits, Kangols and new Nikes was at
We wore fashionable clothing brands like Fila and Kangol and showed off new Nike shoes on the street corner.

We live it real, hard, revoke your zeal
We live a rough and authentic life that can make you lose your enthusiasm.

God don't come around here no mo'
God is absent and doesn't intervene in the violent and rough world of the street corner.

So why you screamin HIS NAME in vain when the pain hits
If God isn't present, why do people call out his name when they are in pain or suffering?

Pick yourself up and get to a hospital quick
Instead of relying on divine intervention, people should take action and seek medical help when they need it.

But leave out the bit, about what went down
Don't discuss the illegal activities that led to the need for medical attention.

I know they hound us for hawkin
The authorities are always after us for selling drugs.

Just a flesh wound, stitch it up, keep it walkin
Even if someone is injured with a minor wound, they are told to keep moving and get their wound patched up.

Niggaz on the corners loyal, they ain't talkin (they ain't talkin)
People on the street corner are loyal and won't snitch or talk about what happens on the block.

Put down the sea of chalk and
Stop marking the ground with chalk to indicate where someone has been killed.

The use of chalk is for lines of hopscotch
Chalk should only be used for innocent activities like drawing hopscotch lines on the sidewalk.

Or tracin dead bodies for crimes that got botched
The only other use of chalk should be for tracing outlines around dead bodies if a crime has been committed and the investigation went awry.

For just crime commitin and it's, time to fit it
If someone is involved in criminal activity, it's important to pay the consequences and take responsibility.

In the schedule, cause them crosstown niggaz
It's important to make time in the schedule to deal with the consequences of criminal activity, as people from across town may come to the street corner to confront you.

Came to our corner sprayin that lead you pull
People from across town came to our street corner and shot at us with guns.

Ain't nuttin deeper than pilin in the car
There's nothing more important than getting in a car and leaving the dangerous situation behind.

With the streetsweeper so we can clear every star
The streetsweeper, a type of gun, is used to shoot back at the attackers and clear the area of any threat.

Off the corner
We aim to settle things so that the streets are safe once more and any violence or crime is prevented.

I wish that I cold give you this feelin
I wish that I could make you understand what it's like to live on the street corner.

We was livin on them corners, had a nigga rhymin, drinkin
We spent our days living on the street corner, rapping and drinking alcohol.

Whylin, potted out, livin HIGH~!
We were out of control and living life recklessly and with a constant high.