[Verse 1]

I went to see my nigga, he doin' seventeen

One of the realist niggas, I done ever seen

Got caught wit' a bird, but his record was clean

Comin' back from dade, on da gator wit' speed

He a real soldier, but his partner was greed

Get out when he fourty, went in at twenty-three

How seventeen years worth one key

Some shit cost twenty-grand can get you over ten piece

He ain't wanna hurt nobody, he was just tryna eat

He had a real job, went to work four days a week

Said this his last trip, and he was gettin' out the streets

He a good nigga, second chance all he need

[Hook 2x]

Some niggas make mistakes, off fucked up circumstance

Now they life gone, probably gon' die in the pen

They done gave up on life and put it in god's hands

I thought this was america, what happened to a second chance

[Verse 2]

Wish I had one chance, to sentence the judge kids

And watch 'em beg for they life like my niggas did

Give them a life sentence fo' some shit that wasn't big

'fore they get granted they appeal they gotta do ten

Shoe gotta be on the otha foot for you to understand

The scariest shit in the world to be a black man

What my future holds, wish I knew in advance

I approach life everyday just hopin' I win

A lot us already lost, we sittin' in the pen

This shit crazy 'cause god, he forgive sin

But when it come to the system that shit don't bend

I guess it do, dependin' on the color of yo' skin

[Hook 2x]

Some niggas make mistakes, off fucked up circumstance

Now they life gone, probably gon' die in the pen

They done gave up on life and put it in god's hands

I thought this was america, what happened to a second chance

[Verse 3]

I thought it was understood, nobody was perfect

So, how can one mistake make yo' life worthless

God made us all, put us here to serve a purpose

Yo life in twelve strangers hands to come back with a verdict

But is that really fair, what if they all was dirty

You mess up one time, and they come back with thirty

But if you ain't got money, yo whole family hurtin'

Then you ain't got a choice, you gotta cop out early

But if you was rich, you wouldn'ta got them thirty

What if the judge racist, nobody'd overturn it

The system fucked up, because it ain't sturdy

Welcome to america, home of the controversy

[Hook 2x]

Some niggas make mistakes, off fucked up circumstance

Now they life gone, probably gon' die in the pen

They done gave up on life and put it in god's hands

I thought this was america, what happened to a second chance