Once a Man, Twice a Child

Oldtimer told me (Yeah) You ain't gon' be able to fuck the same Drink the same Hang out the same I'm like— Once a man, twice a child Yeah Once a man, twice a child It's like a baby again Strong motherfucker when you're young I ducked a razor, ducked some punches, even ducked a gun Nintendo Duck Hunt I ducked police I had to run Meanwhile, when you get old you might become futile My old style is a rough of my new style My old girl dope, but I love my new girl So when I'ma slow down this merry go round Called life I was a youngster with a fever Moms brought cold ice And I was young, scared She ain't care, she made me fight Fifty-two sweep you haymaker right When I get old I hope that I can stay this fly Once a man, twice a child From mama's boy to preschool to college to now employed Now you on, got your first crib, she's having your firstborn Went from buying the finer toys with your boys To buying toys for your boy It's crazy how fast he's growing for sure Grandpops he told me ‘bout his days of old One day I'll be him on the porch, sippin' on something cold And it stuck with my soul I been divided at the road Hot-headed as a youngster, confronted I might unload Now listen, knowledge I received as a seed, as a G That would feed my personal frequency Transcends through all, travel through walls My ministry we ain't know we was livin' hazardous Savages, first niggas in New York with Bentleys Tyson, Kedar, Puff, Stoute and then me Before Many Men was out we went on tour and took 50 Live while you got the strength to Health you should tend to Look all of ain't gon' get old I hope this message hit you For real Strong motherfucker when you're young I ducked a razor, ducked some punches, even ducked a gun Nintendo Duck Hunt I ducked police I had to run Meanwhile, when you get old you might become futile My old style is a rough of my new style My old girl dope, but I love my new girl So when I'ma slow down this merry go round Called life I was a youngster with a fever Moms brought cold ice I'm tryin' to expand the pineal gland The world ain't our home, just temporary please understand You die tomorrow then you born again, so life is deathless Respect and balance, human dignity that's the perspective Aimé Leon Dore New Balance when I'm steppin' Time is precious One day I might need my diaper changed inside a convalescent The soul is different than the flesh is Life is teachin' me more, wisdom and ignorance is kin To have peace, you need war By the time you see the stars in the skies they already burnt out Same way these dudes be shinin' but been burnt out But we don't change, as we get stuck in our ways We just act like we agree so we can end the exchange What's meant for you is sent to you But you could be the problem, it's not always them my dude Was she crazy before you met her or you made her crazy? Possibly she gonna be a nurse when you back to a baby Once a man, twice a child Strong motherfucker when you're young (Uh) I ducked a razor, ducked some punches, even ducked a gun Nintendo Duck Hunt I ducked police I had to run Meanwhile, when you get old you might become futile My old style is a rough of my new style My old girl dope, but I love my new girl So when I'ma slow down this merry go round Called life I was a youngster with a fever Moms brought cold ice And in the streets I had agility, was quick to strike My fear's not seeing it coming, got too rich for that sight So take advantage of your youth before you elderly 'Cause today is the youngest that you will ever be --- Once a Man, Twice a Child - Nas