I am not throwin' away my shot Ayo I'm just like country young scrappy and hungry And I'ma get a scholarship to King's College probably shouldn't brag but dang amaze astonish The problem is got lot of brains no polish gotta holler be heard With every word drop knowledge diamond in the rough shiny piece coal Tryin' reach goal power speech unimpeachable Only 19 mind older These New York City streets colder shoulder Every burden disadvantage I've learned manage don't have gun brandish walk these famished plan fan this spark into flame But damn it's gettin' dark so let me spell out name A-L-E-X-A-N-D-E-R We are meant A colony that runs independently Meanwhile Britain keeps shittin' on us endlessly Essentially they tax relentlessly Then King George turns around spendin' spree He ain't ever gonna set his descendants free So there will revolution century Enter (he says parentheses) Don't shocked when your hist'ry book mentions lay down life if it sets Eventually you'll see ascendancy It's time take dream without monarchy unrest France lead 'onarchy 'Onarchy? How you say how s-? Oh! Anarchy? When fight make other side panicky with (shot) Yo tailor's apprentice y'all knuckleheads loco parentis joinin' rebellion 'cause know chance To socially advance instead sewin' some pants we'll never truly Until those bondage same rights as (that's right) You I do or die wait 'til sally stallion WIth first black battalion Have another Geniuses lower voices keep trouble double choices you situation fraught You've carefully taught If talk you're Burr check what we Mister Lafayette hard rock Lancelot think look hot Laurens Let's hatch plot blacker than kettle callin' pot What odds gods would put all one spot? Poppin' squat conventional wisdom bunch revolutionary manumission abolitionists? Give position show where ammunition Oh talkin' too loud? Sometimes over-excited shoot off at mouth had group friends before promise I'll proud guy front crowd Everybody sing! Whoa whoa whoa (hey) Whoa (woo!) 'em hear ya (yeah) go! (whoa whoa) said shout rooftops (whoa) Said Come on! (Yeah) on let's Rise up livin' knees rise up Tell brother he's sister she's colonies up? (Whoa (Whoa) imagine death much feels more memory When's me? In sleep? Seven feet ahead comin' run be? Is beat melody? See thought I'd live past 20 Where come from half many Ask anybody why fast laugh for flask moment last that's plenty Scratch that moment movement hungriest brothers somethin' prove went? Foes oppose us an honest stand roll Moses claimin' our promised land win independence guarantee freedom descendants? Or blood shed begin endless Cycle vengeance defendants? action street excitin' Jesus between bleedin' fightin' been readin' 'n writin' need handle financial Are nation states? What's state nation? patiently waitin' passionately Smashin' expectation action's act creation! laughin' face casualties sorrow For time thinkin' tomorrow We're (not shot) (rise up) Take shot (whoa-whoa) Time Not shot!