The last day of school, I'm with my mama at the gas station
Says for the hundreth time how proud she is of my graduation
We hit the road, on the way back to my home at the Brook
Makin' sure my gear is straight, cause it's all about the look
Rememberin' my old crew and all that trouble that we had
Also feelin' kinda nervous, it's been a while, they may be mad

I went to school to learn, but the schoolin's back at home
Well u know u gotta do what those niggas do, when in Rome

Been back one day from college, and fuck, I'm full of doubt
But what the fuck, I shout upstairs, "Hey Ma! I'm goin out!"
Goddamn, shit's changed around here, street covered in dirt
Turn the corner, I heard somethin', then, I got blood on my shirt
"What the fuck? E-yo Stee, is that you son? when u get back?
My fault about your shirt, son, but I had to give this bitch a smack."
I stood there shocked, then said "That you, Petey? you changed!"
Threatenin' the poor girl on the floor with a smile, kinda deranged
Turns to me and said "So, I thought you was off gettin' smart?"
"What da fuck, Petey, u ain't no gangsta." Tryin' to play the part
But in truth it's sad, lookin' at my friend who changed so much
We used to talk about how we gonna be millionares and such
Now this niggas drugged out, smackin' up girls for God knows why
She tryin' to get away, he grabs her hair, and she begins to cry

I went to school to learn, but the schoolin's back at home
Well u know u gotta do what those niggas do, when in Rome

Been around the hood for a week, seen most of my old crew
Hit the store yesterday, Jimmy Jazz, got me somethin' new
I try and stay around the crib, shit's more dangerous now
3 days ago, some nigga got shot up, called a girl a cow
On my way to the store, and I saw my old homey Rick
"Stee? What up, son? Come, I need medicine, my wife is sick"
So I walked to the drugstore with him to catch up on the times
Kids blastin' they boom box on the street droppin' rhymes
"Wife? Don't tell me you married Angie, kid" his girl back then
"Angel? Damn, son nobody told ya? Well remember when
We was tellin' Angel to stop with them drugs she was doin'?
I had to break it off, but she was crushed, started screwin'
All these niggas runnin' around, we all thought she'd get AIDS
Takin' all these bastards to bed, she'd go down to get paid
One day she fucked this nigga Charley, and he wouldn't pay
She hit him and he shot da fuck outta her in a drugged out state"
I sat down hard on the fire hydrant and shed some tears for her
I always knew that Angel had wings but thy never flew for her
She was the wisest of us all, always kept us form goin' too far
Now she's fuckin' gone and.. "Is that mothafucka behind bars?"
"Bars? Johhny shot that fucka the day after, right in the neck"
I wanted to know about others, but did I? Really? I held my breath
I couldn't believe how things have changed since I been away
Homeys turned crack addicts and gettin' killed.. I need to pray

I went to school to learn, but the schoolin's back at home
Well u know u gotta do what those niggas do, when in Rome

I came back to reality, and I realized how much life can shift
Came back and all I hear is bad news, nice homecoming gift
I'm just thinkin' back at how lucky I was not to stay in the Stuy
Attached, I missed out on some of the opportunity I had to fly
College saved me, raised me higher, saved me from this place
Some of my friends lost it early, but I'm still runnin' the race

I went to school to learn, but the schoolin's back at home
Well u know u gotta do what those niggas do, when in Rome

I went to school to learn, but the schoolin's back at home
Well u know u gotta do what those niggas do, when in Rome