Penitentiary

In the case of Mr. Frost vs. the State of California

Has the jury reached a verdict?

Yes, your honor

The jury finds the defendant guilty as charged

Put your feet behind your ears

Another one

Touch your nuts

Turn around, see the bottom of your feet

Another one

Spread

A young Chicano growing up, trying to be a good citizen

Lying to himself and won't admit he's in an environment

That's only keeping him down

His momma raised him good but he's still making her frown

But he should stop, make a change, make her smile

Or end up a dead juvenile in a gang file

But he doesn't, he buttons up his and puts on his bandana

Tonight him and his clique are gonna plan a

A hit or a drive-by on an arch-rival

You know the name of the game, it's called survival

You snatch us and we'll shoot you back

So if you mad, dog, we pump and I'ma break your back

My mom thinks I'm at a high school play

Not knowing that some crews got some dues to pay

And will it end here? Not in this century

Where will it end?

In a penitentiary

From a life of crime to a life of rhyme

Penitentiary

From a life of crime to a life of rhyme

(This is the madhouse, homeboy)

He was a young street warrior headed for the grave

Today they are brave, tomorrow they were brave

And then you got the ones that they mommas don't know

As soon as they walk out the door

It's gangbanging, talking street slang and

Hanging on the corner but don't know a thang and

Blonde hair slicked back, saying I'm rowdy

Father in a suit, mother driving an Audi

What do I think of this? I say brother

Another middle class white boy saw colors

Back to the story, and shit was going down

-Gunshots- was the sound

Four gun aces, two dead faces

Bury the punks in two pine cases

All of a sudden, yo, it got colder

My arm was numb, I was bleeding from my shoulder

My heart was broke out and I was gazing at the stars

And the sirens getting louder from the cop cars

Ayo man, I hope he doesn't mention me

And where will it end? Hmm

In a penitentiary

From a life of crime to a life of rhyme

Penitentiary

From a life of crime to a life of rhyme

(If you fight in the penitentiary

You're not to be bullshittin' around)

I'm in a hospital bed, half dead to my discovery

And only two days for the recovery

Task force wants me to surrender

Man fuck 'em all, they give me a public defender

And he'll get me out in a year or two

Plea bargain and get murder two

And the district attorney, he was running for mayor

He didn't care, yo, he was dying to burn me

But I don't care, I just stick to my story

I heard my last name and then "Guilty" said the jury

In a penitentiary

From a life of crime to a life of rhyme

Penitentiary

From a life of crime to a life of rhyme

(This is the madhouse, homeboy)

The penitentiary, that's where you go

Half full of hard heads, man you know

What time, time filled, took it from the first rhyme

I check my mind before I get out of line

Then another race come and take it

I kill before they break in

'Cause what goes on, you mind your business

And walk along in the penitentiary

From a life of crime to a life of rhyme

Penitentiary

From a life of crime to a life of rhyme

(This is the madhouse, homeboy)

If you fight in the penitentiary, you're not to be bullshittin' around

You're not gonna injure somebody, or incapacitate 'em

If you fight in the penitentiary, you're just gonna be with the shank

'Cause it's quick, who wants to wrestle?

Don't do the crime (Don't do the crime)

If you can't do the time (If you can't do the time)

This is the madhouse, homeboy (Don't do it)

Don't go to bed (Don't go to bed)

With the price on your head (With the price on your head)

This is the madhouse, homeboy (Don't do it)

If you fight in the penitentiary, you're not to be bullshittin' around

If you fight in the penitentiary, you're not to be bullshittin' around

If you fight in the penitentiary, you're not to be bullshittin' around

This is the madhouse, homeboy

If you fight in the penitentiary, you're not to be bullshittin' around

If you fight in the penitentiary, you're not to be bullshittin' around

This is the madhouse, homeboy