---

Welcome to the streets of no return

where one wrong move leaves you to burn

You look all around

and see a world in pain

yet you've got to be hard

to avoid the flames

You roll the dice of destiny:

it's your only chance if you want to be free

Get a good shake, you'll break the curse

but if you lose things will only get worse

[sub-chorus]

Riots in the city streets

Fires engulfing the weak

Fibers of society are starting to tear

As the American dream

becomes a nightmare

[chorus]

That's life in the school of hard knocks

Where people try to swim rivers

in concrete socks

That's life in the school of hard knocks

Where departure comes easy

in a pine wood box

Read the lines, another one deceased:

violence reigns in this time of peace

No haven is safe for your kids or wife:

for a measly dollar

someone will take your life

Yet you've got to be mean,

bring down the boot

10 eyes for an eye, 10 teeth for a tooth

In the concrete jungle

there's just one rule:

do onto others before they do unto you

[repeat sub-chorus]

[repeat chorus]

From this urban nightmare

there's no escape

Your chance of survival depends

on your learning to hate

It's survival of the fittest, the weak will die

When you look at the reaper,

spit in his eye!