How Long?
Thug Life Lyrics

How long will they mourn me?
The author is asking how long his friends will grieve his death

Yeah, this for my nigga Kato
The author dedicates the song to his friend, Kato

It's still on nigga, believe that
The author is promising to continue his legacy and fight for justice in his memory

We live a Thug Life, Thugs for Life
The author and his friends embrace their tough, street lifestyle and are committed to each other even in death

Yeah (how long will they mourn me?) we handle this shit for you, boy
The author and his friends promise to avenge Kato's death and keep his memory alive

2Pac in this motherfucker
The author is asserting his presence and reputation as a famous rapper

All my homies drinkin' liquor
The author and his friends are mourning Kato's death with alcohol

Tears in everybody's eyes
The author and his friends are all crying over Kato's death

Niggas cried, to mourn a homie's homicide
The author and his friends are mourning Kato's murder

But I can't cry, instead I'm just a shoulder
The author doesn't cry because he needs to be strong for his friends who are grieving

Damn, why they take another soldier?
The author is lamenting the death of Kato, who he considers a warrior

I load my clip before my eyes blurry, don't worry
The author is preparing for revenge, even though he is emotional

I'll get them suckers back before your buried (shit)
The author is promising to avenge Kato's death before he is even buried

Retaliate and pull a one-eight-seven
The author is talking about killing Kato's murderers

Do real niggas get to go to heaven?
The author is questioning whether he and his friends will go to heaven because of their violent lifestyle

How long will they mourn me? Bury me a motherfuckin' G
The author is asking how long his friends will grieve him and wants to be buried as a gangster

Bitch don't wanna die, then, don't fuck with me
The author is warning his enemies not to mess with him or they will be killed

It's kinda hard to be optimistic
The author is finding it difficult to be positive after Kato's death

When your homie's lyin' dead on the pavement twisted
The author is describing the traumatic experience of seeing his friend's dead body

Y'all don't hear me doe, I'm tryin' hard to make amends
The author feels like his friends are not listening to him despite his efforts to make things right

But I'm losin' all my motherfuckin' friends, damn
The author is losing his friends because of their violent lifestyle

They should've shot me when I was born
The author is saying that he was born to die because of the dangerous environment he grew up in

Now I'm trapped in the motherfuckin' storm
The author feels stuck in a violent, dangerous lifestyle

I wish it would have been another
The author wishes that someone else had died instead of Kato

How long, will they mourn my brother (half them niggas all dead and shit)
The author is asking how long his friends will grieve Kato, even though many of them are already dead

(Dedicated this to Kato nigga, and every thug)
The author is dedicating the song to Kato and everyone who lives a tough, street lifestyle

Every motherfuckin' day homie
The author thinks about Kato and his other deceased friends every day

You stayed down when the other niggas didn't know me
The author is thanking Kato for being a loyal friend when others weren't

From my heart to the trigger, you my fuckin' nigga
The author considers Kato his best friend and is willing to kill for him

And things won't be the same without ya, nigga
The author is mourning the loss of Kato and knows that life will never be the same

I remember kickin' back, you wanted a 'llac
The author reminisces about spending time with Kato and wanting to buy a Cadillac

Tell me Lord, why you take Big Kato?
The author is questioning why God let Kato die

So confused not knowing which way to go
The author is lost and doesn't know how to move forward after Kato's death

I'm goin' crazy and runnin' out of fuckin' time
The author is losing his mind and feels like he doesn't have much time left to live

So day after day, ride after ride
The author is continuing to live his life, even though he is grieving Kato's death

We'll hook up on the other side
The author believes that he will reunite with Kato in the afterlife

Watch over your family and your newborn
The author promises to take care of Kato's family and his new baby

'Til we meet again, homie
The author is saying goodbye to Kato and promising to meet him again in the afterlife

Damn, a nigga tired of feelin' sad
The author is tired of grieving his friends' deaths

I'm tired of puttin' in work
The author is tired of living a violent lifestyle

And my peoples'll be mournin'
The author knows that his friends and family will grieve his death when it happens

When they get a call from the coroner
The author is talking about how his loved ones will find out about his death

All niggas can say is, "That's fucked up"
The author knows that his friends will be angry and upset when they hear about his death

And get tossed up, reminiscin' how we grew up (my nigga)
The author's friends will think back on their childhood and time with the author when he dies

Rest and love to my nigga Kato
The author is saying goodbye to Kato and sending him love and peace in the afterlife

See you in the crossroads real soon
The author believes that he and Kato will reunite in the afterlife

For now let me pour out some brew
The author is pouring out beer as a tribute to Kato

I'll be always thinkin' of ya, homie
The author will never forget Kato and will always remember him fondly

We know life's a fuckin' trip
The author is reflecting on the unpredictability and danger of life

And everybody gotta go
The author knows that everyone will die eventually

But why the fuck it have to be my nigga Kato?
The author is questioning why Kato had to die

Another nigga fell victim to the chrome
Kato was killed by gunfire

It's enough to make you crazy, it's fuckin' with my dome
The author is losing his mind because of the trauma of losing his friend

You only live once on this earth, a nigga had it bad
The author knows that life is short and difficult for people like him

But niggas say they down and they always be my homie
The author's friends claim to be loyal, but many of them have already died

But when a nigga gone, how long will ya mourn me?
The author is asking how long his remaining friends will grieve him when he dies

MAC-10 in this motherfucker, yeah
The author is referencing his gun, a MAC-10

Rated R, Double Jeopardy, MAC-10
The author is promoting his upcoming album and referencing his gun again

Nate Dogg do that shit nigga, yeah
The author is giving a shout-out to his friend and collaborator, Nate Dogg

(This for my nigga Kato, and all his kids)
The author is dedicating the song to Kato and his children

How long will you mourn my brother?
The author is asking how long his friends will grieve him when he dies

How long will they mourn, my brother
The author is asking how long his friends will grieve his deceased brother

How long will you mourn me?
The author is asking how long his friends will grieve him when he dies

How long will they mourn my brother
The author is asking how long his friends will grieve his deceased brother