Desperate in the DC streets,
Desperate for a better life,
Hi-top shoes and hip-hop beats don't hide the violence and strife,
Just fourteen and selling crack,
Feel his spirit slowly die,
Sees a friend shot in the back; no tear comes to his eye.

Desperation - is there hope for these'
Desperation - wondering what to do,
Desperation drives me to my knees,
Desperation - hope fulfilled in you.

Desperate in a DC suite,
Desperate for a better high,
Dollars, lust and power compete, then they tell us all a lie,
"Help us win the war on crime, rid our nation of this stain,"
Hypocrite, worst kind of slime; the mayor's smoking crack cocaine.

Desperation - must things stay the same'
Desperation - wondering what to do,
Desperation burning like a flame,
Desperation, only quenched by you.

In the ghettos, the barrios, and even the burbs, there's a scene going down that really disturbs my conscience, yeah, it gnaws at my guts,
It's more than insane, it's stone cold nuts,
He's only fourteen and he's toting an Uzi,
His rationale is really a doozie,
When the action is his, ya know he's chilling,
Competition moves in, he starts to killing,
He's a business man with a market niche,
His trigger finger's got a business itch,
He's upwardly mobile, jobs are rare,
His aspiration just ain't welfare,
Wants a Lamborghini, maybe a Benz,
Plenty of bills buy him plenty of friends,
Wants cash to flash, cash to stash, to dash,
If you're pressing him, he's gonna bash your head in, steal you in your face,
Calling in the guards, put you in your place,
He got serious hotties, cold, make you drop,
Dead in your tracks, but it's only a prop,
He's lunching and hustling to build his pride, but a hopeless heart, he just can't hide,
I pray he'll find the Lord's salvation; it's the only hope for his desperation.

Desperation - is there hope for these'
Desperation - wondering what to do,
Desperation drives me to my knees,
Desperation - hope fulfilled in you.
Desperation - must things stay the same'
Desperation - wondering what to do,
Desperation burning like a flame,
Desperation, only quenched by you.
Desperation, (that's right)
Desperation, (you're feeling that desperation)
Desperation, (oh)
Desperation,
Desperation, (desperation)
Desperation, (oh)
Desperation, (desperation)
Desperation,
(fade)