A-one, two, a-one, two
A-one, two, a-one, two

Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)

I was born in the Boogie Down catscan
Where my building fell down on the rats and
People sorta super wanna trip to the penile (penile)
While I settle off the shores of the Long Isle
My file is clean, I mean my mind is clear when I transmit
I am the man-a of the family 'cause the pants fit
I want to let forensics prove, that I can mends groove
With the thread from needle outta hay, wanna say
Salutations to the nation of the Nubians
We 'bout to place you in that three feet of stew again
I got the frequency to shatter Mrs. Jones' perm
I gotta "Hey, love" all the honies 'cause they're short term
Tallyin' the score I'm for the shottie in the jacket
For the brother, he's a nigga when he packs it
So get your butt out the sling, I stung Muhammad float a note
That means I'm def, so like the autographs you sign until the break

Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)

Ayo, groove with the mayor, hazard on the sayer
Wave the eighteen mill', even still
Sack or bag of troubles, make the single double
Loop the coin and join the minimum wage
I had a plan if I was the man, I'd throw the J
Lay it low and late night I get 'sessed
Uncondition my ways, of the everyday sunset
Wagin' my days to the one bet
'Cause your breaks'll have the carrot of cakes, whether mine
Out of line, I breeze into the early mornin'
Freak the WIC call and get a tap on my shoulder
'Cause the days of the breaks be just about over
The arts of the six won't play my bag of tricks
I got the sevens in my pocket somewhere
Reasons for the Cheer All Temperature here
I keep it to the rear, and then I'm exploding

I be the fab I be the fabulous but see unlike the Chi
I got the flea up in the name (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Can't no one bend my cousin from the Peter Piper like the others
Latchin' on to when I caught the fame (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Pass the task to ask me bout the Native Tongue again my friend
I tell you Jungle Brothers "On the Run" (a-one, two, a-one, two)
I'm shakin' hands with many devils in the industry
Believe the Genesis like Phil with stills mean that I'm def (a-one, two, a-one, two)
So like the autographs you sign until the break

Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Break of dawn, break of dawn (a-one, two, a-one, two)

We in the mornin' at the end, but in the end I be the is (a-one, two, a-one, two)
'Cause in the mix, man, it's alright
Momma got the rhythm to my daylife (a-one, two, a-one, two)
My pops gots enough so best to leave or sail the waves
To the Long I laid the anchor in the 'Ville
And how I relate, the same side of my gates (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Paper days, mess up my mind, ground zero degrees (a-one, two, a-one, two)
And the weather feels fine
You opened my eyes, man, thought I had her man (a-one, two, a-one, two)
But how could I eyescan, I wasn't around
I seen the states and played the dates in the far-far
Gathered the new, from the zoas around (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Grew old with Mikey Rodes and played the codes
Sometimes I don't budge, without my cous' Fuzz (a-one, two, a-one, two)
A simple, "How ya do?" A check in from my friends and my crew
Makes it definitely special (a-one, two, a-one, two)

Now there's no Shiny Happy People in the crew we play the rough
I got the huff, and puff, to blow the house low
You know the never-ending factor while I'm over, tell a squid
I know an Enterprising brother, so report to the bridge
I bounce a ball with my left, a squid with my right
('Cause a squid is just a punk) Yo, he deserved to lose the fight
I might meander 'cross your dream, travellin' up the stream (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Plug wonder, wonder why you're lonely tonight
We see the girls scream as if we're shocked by the live shell
Let's round 'em up and get 'em back to the hotel (a-one, two, a-one, two)
Motel, holiday, inn-fact! (A-one, two, a-one, two)
I'm gonna let you know, once again, that De La Soul
Is sure to show you we will hit the charter harder
Than the normal rappin' fool (a-one, two, a-one, two)

Copyright: Exploration Group LLC, Songtrust Ave, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Writer(s): David J. Jolicoeur, Kelvin Mercer, Paul E. Huston, Rose Ella Jones, Stevie Wonder, Susaye Greene, Vincent Mason, William Robinson