It depends on who is looking
At the tenement walls
Whether he's coming home
Or passing through

You can walk the streets
And find so much to criticize
But that would be
The easy thing to do

'Cause there's beauty in the concrete
If you see it with your heart
The side walls only hurt you
If you hate them from the start

This is a song
Not necessarily sweet
I'll pass it on
To folks that I never will meet
And if my words
Don't make history
Just call it hardcore poetry

You can blame the world
If troubles come
And knock at your door
Let your weakness
Cut you down to size

If you find some fault with everything
Surrounding you
Maybe it's your narrow minded eyes
'Cause there's music in the city
If your ears
Is to the ground
Only nonbelievers
Never hear a single song

This is a song
Not necessarily sweet
I'll pass it on
To folks that I never will meet
And if my words
Don't make history
Just call it hardcore poetry

And if my words
Don't make history
Just call it hardcore poetry
La
La
La