Coolio - Gangster's Paradise [tekst, tłumaczenie i interpretacja piosenki]

[Verse 1]
As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there's nothin' left
Cause I've been blastin' and laughin' so long that
Even my mama thinks that my mind is gone
But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it
Me be treated like a punk, you know that's unheard of
You better watch how you talkin' and where you walkin'
Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk
I really hate to trip, but I gotta loc
As they croak I see myself in the pistol smoke, fool
I'm the kind of G the little homies wanna be like
On my knees in the night, sayin' prayers in the street light

[Hook: L.V.]
We've been spending most our lives
Livin' in the Gangsta's Paradise
(repeat)
We keep spending most our lives
Livin' in the Gangsta's Paradise
(repeat)

[Verse 2]
Look at the situation, they got me facin'
I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the street
So I gotta be down with the hood team
Too much television watchin' got me chasin' dreams
I'm a educated fool with money on my mind
Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye
I'm a loc'd out gangsta, set-trippin' banger
And my homies is down, so don't arouse my anger, fool
Death ain't nothin' but a heartbeat away
I'm livin' life do-or-die-a, what can I say?
I'm twenty-three now, but will I live to see twenty-fo'?
The way things is goin' I don't know

[Bridge: L.V.]
Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me?

[Hook]

[Verse 3]
Power and the money, money and the power
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybody's runnin', but half of them ain't lookin'
It's goin' on in the kitchen, but I don't know what's cookin'
They say I got to learn, but nobody's here to teach me
If they can't understand it, how can they reach me?
I guess they can't, I guess they won't
I guess they front; that's why I know my life is outta luck, fool

[Hook]

[Outro: L.V.]
Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me?
Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me?

{*choir sings until the end*}