Angel grew up on the street
without a guide, ran wild
a hot headed boy
became a tough young man
grew up fighting back

Ran the streets of the city
chasing slick cash and promises
had a big, easy smile, big dreams
was prone to instant rage

Grew up on mean street
skin got so hard on the outside
nothing solid could grow inside it
grew up where most boys don't
ever grow old, where sirens wail
twenty-four seven

Angel was a boy bored with school
couldn't concentrate, unruly, defiant
always ready to explode, challenge
got put on the fast track to trouble
street taught him to use a gun

Angel took another boy's life
manslaughter, armed robbery
big rap for still a boy.  Prison
from early teens to mid-twenties
got out, went in, got out, got killed
Shot down.  Dead end of story

Brother, did you know I cared?
Did you know I loved you?
Did you know I feared you?
Did you know I, too, was lost
when you tried to reach out?

Brother, I could hear you
but you weren't in a place
I knew how to reach
Brother, I still search for you
on mean street without a guide