Raised up with two kinds of people
The good ones and the bad
I was taught from early on
The only choice I had
Now I see, it's clear to me
What was in the plan
Had to walk the walk and talk the talk
And try to be a man
I swear the wind took me away
But now I'm here again today, yeah

[Chorus]
I'm back on the mean streets (back on the mean streets)
Oh, it's the only thing I know
Never change me (never change me)
It was born in my soul
And it don't take much to make me mad
Push me a little and I bring back
I've a mean streak, oh
Yeah, I'm back on the mean streets

Somebody stole my money, I heard a brother say
Used to we'd fight it out, that was yesterday
Just cause you're packin' son, don't make you a man
If you shoot to kill, what's the thrill
Why don't you understand
Each time I walk outside my door
We need a change and that's for sure

[Chorus]

Do you ever think about where you're goin'
Have you ever thought about where you been
Will you ever pass this way again
There's a fear and you know it
But inside, you can't show it
No where for you to run and hide

[Chorus]

Yeah, I'm back on the mean streets baby
I'm back on the mean streets
I'm back on the mean streets
Mean streets
It don't take much to take me back

Copyright: BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Writer(s): GARY ROSSINGTON, HUGHIE THOMASSON, JOHNNY VAN ZANT, RICKEY MEDLOCK