On a concrete slab in a concrete block
I've been payin' my dues
In the school of hard knocks
Where the teachers can't teach
And the students don't care
'Cause no matter what we learn
We ain't going nowhere
You get higher education
In the bathroom stall
Where the smoke could choke
A fireman six feet tall
They sell you mystery meat
They expect you to eat
And after chewin' that meat
Listerine tastes sweet
But I ain't no fool
I'm keepin' my cool
In the school of hard knocks
They decide my fate till I graduate
From the school of hard knocks
Jump back
On my better days
I get to play some ball
But I find it bounces better
Off the classroom wall
No, you can't teach math
To a psychopath
And chemistry reminds me
Of an acid bath
But I ain't no fool
I'm keepin' my cool
In the school of hard knocks
You know I can't decide
If I should laugh or cry
If I was a bluebird
They couldn't teach me to fly
Just give me the chance
To teach them with rap
Then maybe then they'll listen up
Instead of taking a nap
Hey
Wake up, class, and how are you?
Your teacher's down and out with flu
I'll be your substitute today
So shut your face
Let's hear your say:
I love geometry
Teach me biology
Foreign language is the thing I'll miss
'Cause the teacher's been a-teachin' me
How to French kiss
Yeah, we parlez-vous-ed
Till our dreams came true
Now for the final exam, I know what to do
'Cause I ain't no fool
I keep cool
In the school of hard knocks
They decide my fate till I graduate
From the school of hard knocks, yeah
Yeah
(Hard knocks)
Check it out now
(Hard knocks)
Hey
Look out
(Hard knocks)
[?]
(Hard knocks)
Yeah
(Hard knocks)