Yellow Brick Road Eminem

[00:04.08] "What we have to do is deal with it when these individuals are young
[00:05.27] enough, if you will, to be saved, not in a religious sense,
[00:08.74] but not to constitute what this country
[00:10.57] at times calls their throwaway children."
[00:14.57] "We seem to be approaching an age of the gross." {burp}
[00:21.08] "We all have this idea that we should move up a little bit from our
[00:22.73] parents' nation and each generation should do a little bit better."
[00:25.23] Alright, come on, let's cut the bullshit, enough
[00:29.88] Let's get it started,
[00:31.36] let's start addressin' this issue, and open it up
[00:32.62] Let's take this shit back to the basement
[00:35.37] And we can discuss statements that's made on this tape and
[00:37.72] Its whole origin of the music that we all know and love
[00:39.96] The music that we all enjoy
[00:41.20] The music you accuse me of tryin' to destroy
[00:42.67] Let's rewind it to '89 when I was a boy
[00:45.03] On the east side of Detroit, crossin' 8 Mile into Warren
[00:50.06] Into hick territory; I'd like to share a story
[00:53.06] This is my story, and can't nobody tell it for me
[00:56.11] You have well informed me, I am well-aware
[00:59.19] That I don't belong here: you've made that perfectly clear
[01:01.93] I get my ass kicked damn near everywhere
[01:04.72] From Bel-Aire shopping center just for stopping in there
[01:07.77] From the black side all the way to the white side
[01:10.42] Okay, there's a bright side, a day that I might slide
[01:13.23] You may call it a pass, I call it haulin' my ass
[01:16.25] Through that patch of grass over them railroad tracks
[01:18.83] Oh, them railroad tracks, them old railroad tracks
[01:20.99] Them good old notorious so well known tracks
[01:24.29] So, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road
[01:25.39] As we go on another episode
[01:26.76] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place
[01:31.66] That I once used to call home sweet home
[01:35.03] Come on, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road
[01:41.74] As we go on another episode
[01:43.84] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place
[01:45.62] That I once used to call home sweet home
[01:47.57] I'd roam the streets so much they'd call me a drifter
[01:50.18] Sometimes I'd stick up a thumb just to hitchhike
[01:52.10] Just to get picked up to get me a lift to
[01:54.74] 8 Mile and Van Dyke and steal a goddamn bike
[01:58.70] From somebody's backyard, and drop it off at the park
[02:01.47] That was the halfway mark, to meet Kim, had to walk
[02:04.36] Back to her mama's on Chalmers after dark
[02:07.17] To sneak me in the house when I'm kicked out my Mom's
[02:10.07] That's about the time I first met Proof
[02:12.53] With Goofy Gary on the steps
[02:15.00] At Osbourne, handin' out some flyers
[02:16.94] He was doin' some talent shows at Center Line High
[02:18.80] I had told him to stop by and check this out sometime
[02:22.12] He looked at me like I'm out my mind
[02:24.03] Shook his head, like, "White boys don't know how to rhyme."
[02:26.84] I spit out a line and rhymed "birthday" with "first place"
[02:29.84] And we both had the same rhymes that sound alike
[02:33.41] We was on the same shit, that Big Daddy Kane shit
[02:36.97] With compound syllables sound combined
[02:39.19] From that day we was down to ride
[02:41.86] Somehow we knew we'd meet again somewhere down the line
[02:44.29] So, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road
[02:47.27] As we go on another episode
[02:49.65] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place
[02:52.58] That I once used to call home sweet home
[02:55.14] Come on, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road
[02:58.02] As we go on another episode
[03:01.12] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place
[03:04.28] That I once used to call home sweet home
[03:06.97] My first year in 9th grade, can't forget that day at school
[03:10.34] It was cool 'til your man MC Shan came through
[03:12.86] He said that Puma's the brand 'cause the Klan makes Troops
[03:16.05] It was rumors, but man, goddamn, they flew
[03:18.64] Musta been true, because man, we done banned they shoes
[03:20.80] I had the new ones, the Cool J, Ice Lamb, suede too
[03:23.86] But we just threw 'em in the trash like they yesterday's news
[03:26.91] Guess who came through next?
[03:28.77] X Clan debuted, Professor X (vanglorious)
[03:30.33] Exists in a state of red, black and green, with a key, sissies!
[03:34.28] Now with this being a new trend, we don't fit in
[03:37.91] Crackas is out with Cactus albums, blackness is in
[03:40.24] African symbols and medallions represent Black Power
[03:44.42] And we ain't know what it meant, me and my man Howard
[03:47.51] And Butta would go to the mall
[03:49.36] With 'em all over our necks like we're showin 'em off
[03:51.96] Not knowin' at all we was being laughed at
[03:54.55] "You ain't even half black!
[03:56.21] You ain't 'posed to have that, homie, let me grab that!
[03:59.07] And that Flavor Flav clock, we gon' have to snatch that!"
[04:01.72] All I remember is meeting back at Manix's basement
[04:05.19] Sayin' how we hate this
[04:06.93] How racist but dope the X Clan's tape is
[04:09.62] Which reminds me, back in '89, me
[04:12.07] And Kim broke up for the first time; she was tryna two-time me
[04:15.29] And there was this black girl at our school
[04:17.30] Who thought I was cool
[04:19.51] 'Cause I rapped, so she was kinda eyein' me
[04:21.12] And oh the irony, guess what her name was?
[04:23.72] Ain't even goin' say it, plus, the same color hair as hers
[04:27.10] Was and blue contacts and a pair of jugs
[04:29.99] The bombest goddamn girl in our whole school
[04:33.17] If I could pull her, not only would I become more popular
[04:36.06] But I would be able to piss Kim off at the
[04:38.14] Same time; but it backfired
[04:40.02] I was supposed to dump her but she dumped me for this black guy
[04:43.67] And that's the last I ever seen or heard
[04:46.61] Or spoke to the "Oh Foolish Pride" girl
[04:48.72] But I've heard people say they heard the tape and it ain't that bad
[04:51.94] But it was: I singled out a whole race
[04:54.04] And for that I apologize, I was wrong
[04:57.12] 'Cause no matter what color a girl is, she's still a ho
[05:00.85] So, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road
[05:03.38] As we go on another episode
[05:05.53] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place
[05:08.66] That I once used to call home sweet home
[05:11.05] Come on, let's go back, follow the yellow brick road
[05:14.89] As we go on another episode
[05:17.32] Journey with me as I take you through this nifty little place
[05:21.46] That I once used to call home sweet home
[05:24.47]