"The Streets"

How is it that I keep saying
I love you?
When deep in my heart
I really know I hate you.
I'm working hard
to keep my hands and feet off you,
But to get anywhere with you
I have to keep my ears to you.
When I was younger
you made me ruthless.
You instilled the building blocks
of who I am today.
If it wasn't for you
I wouldn't have the heart
to pull the tools out
and pick this world apart.
Build a new
and do the things
that is necessary for me to do.
You don't hug me,
You don't love me,
You keep me cold.
If it wasn't for my children,
because of you,
I'd probably have no soul.
The devil don't have no hand in you.
He can't hold a torch to you.
You the bitch he chase.
Thinking he pimpin',
but you smile
And spit in his face.
You turn boys to men.
Enemies to friend.
And hoes,
you bend, cripple and spend,
Like the dollars made on you,
displayed on you.
Careers,
national treasures,
lives,
and memories
Are built on you
And die with you.
And still,
We lie with you,
Lay with you,
And get by with you.
Without you,
I have to do
what the lord
Intended me to.