If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)

Lyrics

[Produced by Rashad Smith & Trackmasters] [Intro: Nas] Life I wonder Will it take me under? I don't know [Verse 1: Nas] Imagine smokin' weed in the street without cops harassin' Imagine goin' to court with no trial Lifestyle, cruisin' blue Bahama waters No welfare supporters, more conscious of the way we raise our daughters Days are shorter, nights are colder Feelin' like life is over, these snakes strike like a cobra The world's hot, my son got knocked, evidently It's elementary, they want us all gone eventually Troopin' outta state for a plate of knowledge If coke was cooked without the garbage, we'd all have the top dollars Imagine everybody flashin' fashion Designer clothes, lacin' your clique up with diamond Roles Your people holdin' dough, no parole, no rubbers Goin raw, imagine law with no undercovers Just some thoughts for the mind I take a glimpse into time, watch the blimp read "The World Is Mine" [Chorus: Lauryn Hill & Nas] If I ruled the world (Imagine that) I'd free all my sons (I love 'em, love 'em, baby) Black diamonds and pearls (Could it be, if you could be mine, we'd both shine?) If I ruled the world (Still livin' for today, in these last days and times) [Verse 2: Nas] The way to be: Paradise life, relaxin' Black, Latino and Anglo-Saxon, Armani Exchange, the Range Cash, Lost Tribe of Shabazz, free at last Brand new whips to crash, then we laugh in a iller path The Villa house is for the crew — how we do Trees for breakfast, dime sexes and Benz stretches So many years of depression make me vision The better livin', type of place to raise kids in Open they eyes to the lies, history's told foul But I'm as wise as the old owl, plus the Gold Child Seein' things like I was controllin', clique rollin' Trickin' six-digits on kicks and still holdin' Trips to Paris, I'd civilize every savage Give me one shot, I turn trife life to lavish Political prisoners set free, stress free No work release, purple M3's and jet skis Feel the wind breeze in West Indies I'd let Coretta Scott-King mayor the cities, and reverse fiends to Willies It sound foul, but every girl I meet'd go down-town I'd open every cell in Attica, send 'em to Africa, Africa [Chorus: Lauryn Hill & Nas] If I ruled the world (Imagine that) I'd free all my sons (I love 'em, love 'em, baby) Black diamonds and pearls (Could it be, if you could be mine, we'd both shine?) If I ruled the world (Still livin' for today, in these last days and times) [Bridge: Lauryn Hill] And then we'll walk right up to the sun, hand in hand (hand) We'll walk right up to the sun, we won't land (land) We'll walk right up to the sun, hand in hand (hand) We'll walk right up to the sun, we won't land (land) [Verse 3: Nas] You love to hear the story how the thugs live in worry Ducked down in car seats, heat's mandatory Runnin' from Jake, getting chased, hunger for papes These are the breaks, many mistakes go down outta state Wait, I had to let it marinate, we carry weight Tryin' to get laced, flip the ace, stack the safe Millionaire plan to keep the Gat with the cocked hammer Makin' moves in Atlanta, back-and-forth scrambler 'Cause you could have all the chips, be poor or rich Still, nobody want a nigga havin' shit If I ruled the world and everything in it Sky's the limit, I'd push a Q45 Infinit' It wouldn't be no such thing as jealousies, or B Felony Strictly livin' longevity to the destiny I thought I'd never see, but reality struck Better find out before your time's out, what the fuck?! [Chorus: Lauryn Hill & Nas] If I ruled the world (Imagine that) I'd free all my sons (I love 'em, love 'em, baby) Black diamonds and pearls (Could it be, if you could be mine, we'd both shine?) If I ruled the world (Still livin' for today, in these last days and times) If I ruled the world, if I ruled, if I ruled (Imagine that) I'd free all my sons, if I ruled, if I ruled (I love 'em, love 'em, baby) Black diamonds and pearls, black diamonds, black diamonds (Could it be, if you could be mine, we'd both shine?) If I ruled the world (Still livin' for today, in these last days and times) [Outro: Lauryn Hill] If I ruled the world, if I ruled, if I ruled I'd free all my sons (black diamonds) (I love 'em, love 'em, baby) Black diamonds and pearls If I ruled, if I ruled the world If I ruled the world (I love 'em, love 'em, baby)