10 Nobody Knows
Nelly Lyrics

I... didn't know, there'd be troubles along the way
I had no idea that life would be so difficult and challenging

Nobody told me nothin, nobody told me nothin, nothin
No one warned me about the obstacles and hardships I would face

I went through, 8 different schools in, 12 different years
I attended eight different schools and spent twelve years in education

That's 30 different teachers, over ten thousand different peers
During that time, I had around 30 teachers and was exposed to over ten thousand classmates

And I done fought in e'ryone, been suspended e'rytime
I got into fights at every school and was suspended each time

Besides a few a felony, done committed e'ry crime
I also committed a few felonies and committed every other kind of crime

But never braggin on, just want you to see me what I done done
I am not proud of my past, but I want you to know what I have been through

I'm never proud of it, so I don't have to go back there again
I am not proud of my past, but I have learned from my mistakes and do not want to repeat them

And uhh, I used to go like house to house (man)
I used to move from house to house, never having a stable place to call home

Sleepin on couch to couch (you know)
I slept on different couches every night

Walk around stickin out my hands, lookin for a handout
I used to ask for handouts from people, hoping to get by

Only thing I handed out was more bills
I did not have much to give, and I often ended up owing people money

Only thing pulled me out was my will
My own determination and drive helped me get out of that tough situation

God told me the sun don't chill
I realized that life keeps moving forward, and nothing will stop it

Determined to make use of one of these skills
I was motivated to use my abilities to improve my situation

Either that or go beat the block
My other option was to turn to illegal activity to make money

Ain't no way you can beat the cops
I knew that getting involved in illegal activity was not a good option

Ain't no way I can beat the clock
I also knew that time was against me and I had to make the most of it

Just a matter of time shut down your shop
I knew that if I continued down the wrong path, my life would only get worse

Ohh, you stay up day and nights, livin this way of life
I used to stay up all night and day just trying to get by in my difficult circumstances

I was +Young and Restless+
I was young and full of energy and didn't know what to do with it

+All My Children+ came and then I had a +Guiding Light+ (hey)
I had many responsibilities and challenges to face, but I had my family to guide me

No more of that sittin mayne (c'mon) sittin and waitin
I stopped waiting around for something to change and took action to change my life

and thinkin somebody comin to take me up off them streets
I stopped expecting someone else to rescue me from my tough situation

But now I know..
I have gained knowledge and wisdom from my experiences

Nobody told me that the road would be easy, yeah
I had no idea that life's journey would be filled with so many challenges

I don't believe, I've made it this far
Despite the challenges, I am surprised and grateful to have come this far

My whole life, man I've been workin so hard and I know
I have worked hard my entire life, and I am aware of how much effort it takes to make progress

I can't believe, I've made it this far (Whoo, yeahhh)
I am amazed that I have been able to overcome so many obstacles and challenges

I can tell you right now, I'm sayin
I am telling you honestly

I could sit here and count on one hand
I can only count a few people who have supported me through my journey

How many people seen me graduate
Only a few people were there to see me graduate from school

I know a few that did but a bunch that ain't (hey)
There were many people who did not believe in me or support me

Same folks showin up in swarms, waitin for me to go on
Now, many of those same people want to be around me because of my success

Wantin to see Ali perform, wasn't so po' before
People who didn't care about me before now want to see me perform like a celebrity

I became this household name
My fame and success have made me well-known around the world

I was playin them Little League games
I started from humble beginnings, playing Little League sports as a child

Nobody curred if I go 0-for-3
No one cared if I failed, such as going 0 for 3 in a baseball game

Nobody out hurr rootin for me but my Momma
Only my mother was truly supportive of me

Supported me in e'rything, "Why she get e'rything?"
My mother tried her best to support me in everything, even if it meant sacrificing for me

Some people got the nerve to ask
Some people had the audacity to ask

why'all can kiss my a**, and that's my Momma
I don't care what anyone says, I will always stand by my mother's support

Got a sister that need my help (hey) and I gave peace all with wealth
I have a sister who needs my help, and I gave her everything I could to make her life better

Give anything that I have, just to see her in perfect health
I would give everything I have to make sure that my sister is healthy and happy

Now we out hurr complainin, "I got work to do" (ohh)
Nowadays, people complain about having work to do, but I know what hard work really is

How bad you think you got it, somebody else got it worse than you (hey)
No matter how bad you think your situation is, someone else is likely going through worse

I done had them down and ups and, don't plan on comin back down (no)
I have experienced many highs and lows, but I am determined to keep moving forward

Don't plan on leavin hurr no time soon, but I got too comfortable now
I don't plan on leaving anytime soon, but I am aware of the danger of becoming too comfortable with my success

Wouldn't have no knowledge of wealth, without no knowledge of self
I know that my success would not be possible without first understanding myself and my potential

And I'ma keep walkin this road - my mind, body and soul
I will continue to move forward with my mind, body, and soul fully invested in my journey

I know [echoes]
I have gained knowledge from my experiences

That would help me to ease my pain (to help ease my pain, yeah)
I wish someone had warned me about the difficulties of life so that I could have better prepared myself

I've been walkin this roooooad, for forever and a day (forever and a day)
I have been on this journey for a long time, and it does not seem to end anytime soon

Now I've been searchin somethin (whoa-ohhh)
I have been searching for something to guide me and help me find my way

For someone to help me find my way (somebody help me, find my way)
I am looking for someone to guide and support me on my journey