Coulda Been
Lupe Fiasco Lyrics

And they say, and they say
People often have opinions and judgments about what I do and who I am

they say, they say, they say
There are many different voices and opinions that try to define me

A lot of stuff, y'know what I mean?
There is a lot of noise and chaos that distracts from the truth

Don't know where I coulda been
I don't know what my life would have been like if I hadn't pursued music

If I wasn't doin' this thing right here, shit, yo
If I wasn't rapping, I would be doing something else, but I'm happy where I am

If I wasn't rappin' I probably be wrastlin'
If I wasn't a musician, I might have pursued a career in wrestling

Hand to hand grapplin' on the corner of Madison
I might have been a street wrestler taking on challengers on the busy streets of New York

Or real-estating, trying to sell you a mansion
I could have gone into the real estate business and trying to sell high-end properties

Or rollerblading doing three-sixty flat spins
I might have devoted myself to the extreme sport of rollerblading and doing difficult tricks and maneuvers

Or I'd probably be flipping a burger
I could have ended up working fast food, flipping burgers for a living

Attempting a murder, paralyzed sippin' on Gerber
I might have taken a dark path, attempting murder and ending up paralyzed, drinking baby food

I could be working at Jewels, chain snatching
If things had turned out differently, I could have been working at a jewelry store and taking part in thefts

Jerking your jewels, homeless working for food
I could have become homeless, resorting to begging and stealing to survive

I might be cleaning your pool, teaching your school, preaching to fools
I could have taken up various jobs such as cleaning pools or teaching, or even trying to impart wisdom to those who don't want to hear it

Leeching, smoking weed to be cool
I could have fallen into the trap of being a leech on society and smoking weed to try and fit in

At DMV's holding lines up
I might have been working at the DMV and causing long lines and frustration for people

Or wind up in line-ups, the time's up
I could have been arrested and put in a criminal lineup

Full of holes in a hole in a fine tux
I might have been shot and killed while wearing a fancy tuxedo

Out on parole, out of control, holding your dime up
I could be living life on parole, barely in control of my actions, and hostage holding for ransom

I could be lazy, sitting on your couch
If I wasn't motivated, I might be sitting on someone's couch, doing nothing

Or I could be crazy, cussing pigeons out
I might have gone insane, shouting at innocent pigeons

I could be thanking the academy
If I had pursued acting, I could have been thanking the academy for an award

A friend of the family, your man delivering bail
I might know someone who works as a bail bondsman, helping people get released from jail

Or I could be the man that delivers your mail
I might be a postman, delivering mail to people's homes

Or I could be taking the stand drinking on L
I could be in court, testifying while drunk

This could be my third life, my third strike
I might have had several brushes with death or trouble in my life, and this could be my last chance or my third strike before going to jail

Or my third wife, or garbage on my first mic
I might have been married several times, or I could have started out in music as garbage or poor quality

I could've got off easy, that nigga deserved life
I might have been involved in a criminal act where I got off with a light sentence, while someone else received a much harsher sentence

Or the Orkin man searching for termites
I could be working as an exterminator, looking for pests like termites in people's homes

I could be sticking up convenience stores
I could have turned to robbing stores to make a quick buck

Or twisting up what you fiending for
I might have been selling drugs or getting involved in other illegal activities

Or gettin' bucked with the meanest whores
I could have been sleeping with dangerous or mean women

Or been giving up, on top of a building leaning forward, with no wings to soar it
I could have fallen into despair and given up on life, standing on top of a building and contemplating suicide

They could've kidnapped my daughters
I could have had my children taken from me in a kidnapping

Been extorted for a couple of Porsches
I might have been blackmailed into giving up expensive cars like Porsches

I might be drunk from the Moe', stumblin' slow
If I wasn't focused on music, I could have ended up a drunk, stumbling around slowly

Someone you know, running the show, or shoveling snow, shit
I might be the one in charge of something important, or just shoveling snow in the winter

I just might be cuttin' your grass
I could be doing simple, mundane tasks like cutting someone's lawn

Walkin' your dog, pumpin' your gas
I might be walking someone's dog or working at a gas station

Or nothin' at all
I might not be doing anything at all

I could be starting guarding, or planting the garden, or security guarding
I could have started my own business in gardening, or security related work.

Or I could be starving and eating out your garbage
I might be struggling to find food, and resorting to eating other people's garbage.

And found stardom and starring in sitcoms with Martin
Despite humble beginnings, I could have found success and become a TV star, like Martin Lawrence.

I could've been marching with Martin
If I had been alive in the time of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I might have marched alongside him in the Civil Rights Movement.

Handcuff, nullface, over the face with no comment
I could have been arrested by the police, with no explanation given and no opportunity to defend myself.

I might not even be dark-skinned
I might have a different skin color or ethnicity, which would have changed my life experiences.

I might not even be conscious, comatose from an overdose
I could have struggled with addiction and overdosed, leading to a coma.

A R&B singer blowing the notes
If I had pursued a career in music, I could have been an R&B singer, known for my impressive vocal range.

A tailor sewing the coat, a sailor rowing the boat
I could have pursued different careers, such as tailoring clothing or working as a sailor.

I could've boxed a little, fought for the title
I might have pursued a career in boxing, hoping to be a champion.

Lost, and lost my vitals on the way to the hospital
I could have lost a fight and my life on the way to receive medical attention.

I could've lost my business
I might have started a business, only to have it fail and lose everything.

Won the lotto and lost my ticket
I could have won the lottery, but lost my ticket and the chance to claim my prize.

I could be the last one to cross the finish
I might be struggling to reach my goals, and everyone else has already accomplished theirs.

Shit, I could be you, I could be him, he could be me, we all got a job
We are all unique individuals with our own paths, dreams and struggle to find a way to make a living.