Rikers Island

Woah momma, woah pappa,
You should have seen your little son.

The first time the youth, come a New York,
Them tellin' you, you must'nt skylark,
Learn a trade or go to school,
And don't you turn yourself in a fool.

But now him gone, a Riker's Island,
He never want go a Riker's Island.

Him used to walk and screw up him face,
But now him spending 'nuff time up-state.
Dey used to tell 'im, understand,
But now dem find him with a M-1.
Inna 'im pocket, him have a million,
So, now him gone, a Riker's Island.
He never want go a Riker's Island,
But now him gone a Riker's Island.
Mmmm, oy.

Him used to chuck it, from Brooklyn to Bronx,
And a gwarn like a big top Ranks,
But 'nuff a him government response.
'Cause him gone, a Riker's Island,
He never want go a Riker's Island.
Now him gone a Riker's Island,
He never want go a Riker's Island.

No mamma, I wish you were around,
To see your youth how him going down
Him used to chuck it, from town to town.
Him used to shot people, all around,
Uptown, and downtown, and all around.

So, now him gone, a Riker's Island,
He never want go a Riker's Island.
Now him gone, a Riker's Island,
He never want go a Riker's Island, Oh no,
He never want go dere, no.

No, no, no, no...mmmm.

Dey used to tell him stop screw up him face,
But now 'im spending time somewhere up-state.
Dem used to tell 'im to understand,
Inna him pocket, dem find a million,
And now dem find him with a M-1.
So, now him gone, a Riker's Island.
He never want go a Riker's Island.
And now him gone, a Riker's Island,
He never want reach a Riker's Island.

But oh sister, he wish you were around,
To give him food, even change his gown,
He used to roam it from town to town,
But government have him under cell-bound.

'Cause, now him gone, a Riker's Island,
He never want go a Riker's Island.
But now him gone a Riker's Island,
He never want go a Riker's Island.

The first time deh youth come a New York,
Dem used to tell him youth don't skylark,
Learn a trade or go to school,
And don't you make no one take you for fool.

But now him gone, a Riker's Island,
Yes him gone, a Riker's Island.

Dem used to chuck it from Brooklyn to Bronx,
And a gwarn like deh most top Ranks,
But 'nuff a him government response,
'Ca, yes him gone a Riker's Island.
He never want go a Riker's Island,
But now him gone a Riker's Island.
He shouldn't mix up with deh don man,
And now him gone a Riker's Island,
Mmmmmmm...[fade]