Ain't no love in the streets

Concrete jungle, where the shadows creep, Dreams get buried, while the lost souls weep. Used to be a king, now I'm just a pawn, Life's a game of chess, but the board's all gone. Grew up in the struggle, where the real ones thrive, But the streets ain't the same, can’t feel alive. Hustle for a dollar, but they take your pride, Every corner turned, another tear I hide. Echoes of the past, memories collide, Trust is a ghost, can't let it reside. Used to chase the paper, now it's all a scheme, Reality's a nightmare, not the dream I dreamed. Once a hopeful heart, now it’s filled with doubt, The streets aren't what they used to be, spit me out. Lessons learned in fire, scars tell the tale, Navigating through the chaos, gotta prevail. I learned my lesson from the whispers of the streets, Pain’s a teacher, got my heart in a vice grip, it repeats, Witnessed shadows lurking, demons playing hide and seek, Life’s a puzzle, every piece I find is bittersweet. Lessons etched in scars, they’re the ink on my skin, Fighting battles in my mind, where the chaos begins, Grew up in the storm, but I’m seeking the calm, With every tear shed, I’m just weathering the harm. Wisdom’s a blade, cut the fakes from the real, Every wound’s a chapter, tell me how does it feel? Grit on my soul, I’m a soldier on the grind, Turning pain into power, leaving weakness behind. Echoes of the past, yeah, they haunt like a ghost, But I’m feeding on the struggle, it’s the pain that I boast, Climbing out the gutter, got my eyes on the prize, From the ashes I rise, hear the truth in my cries.