[Chorus]
 
 Once upon a time in that Ghetto yo
 
 I used to make the chetta
 
 When I was lounging with the playa and the hustlers yo
 
 And rydin on 'em haters
 
 Just pimpin with them playas from the 415
 
 Hustling everyday just to stay alive
 
 Huh, once upon a time in the ghetto yo-o
 
 I used to make that cheddar
 
  
  [Verse 1]
 
 Used to be a slave to sin
 
 Smoking indo smoke like the homie Mista Grimm
 
 Now who a thought that years ago I'd be the one reachin him
 
 Prayin in the late night hour crying
 
 Askin' that lord to come on in
 
 Of a broken heart filled with all this hurt and pain
 
 Askin that lord to clear that overcast and all the rain
 
 Cuz there ain't no sunshine in the ghetto
 
 Unless ya got Christ in ya life not the devil
 
 That's what I had though
 
 Demons in my system dogg
 
 Now I'm intoxicated wit the Holy Spirit yall
 
 No more chronic, bionic and gin and tonic
 
 Chocolate tye, or sticky icky, icky
 
 Cuz the Holy Goly gets me high
  
 
 [Verse 2]
 
 See I was, thugged out
 
 West Cali livin
 
 Straight sinnin in boss hog Cali Pimpin
 
 Straight sippin Gin & Juice, Tangarae and Rum
 
 Steady spittin pimp game from this play tongue
 
 Brim tilted to the left
 
 Leaning in my ride
 
 "Wit that" rims glistering
 
 While I'm whistling
 
 Picture me and chicks kissin in the back of a 64
 
 Devil had me trippin like a wineo' in a liquor store
 
 Thank God bro Jesus broke the Devils chains
 
 Now I'm addicted, shooting this gospel all up in my veins
 
 Can't get enough of the way that he makes me feel
 
 I wanna holla, holla
 
 Ready to die in ya honor
 
 I'm a changed man from the feet up
 
 But stay G'd up
 
 From the street up
 
 So I can reach rydas smoking the weed up
  
 
 [Bridge]
 
 I just don't know why
 
 These rydas wanna ryde
 
 When they know that
 
 They very well could die
 
 From the bullets of a gage or nine
 
 When ya living in the fast lane commitin 'em crimes
 
 I said I... just don't know why
 
 These plays wanna play
 
 When they know that the world is filled wit AIDS and disease
 
 Baby mamma wit dads who be flossing while they
 
 Kids are broke & dressin in rags