Didn't take nothin' that I didn't need 'Cause they didn't offer classes in what I wanted to be They didn't offer manhood responsibility Had to learn it the hard way Earn my degree in the streets Graduated from hard knocks I got my education And hard knocks Gettin' in and out of situations Hard knocks Got the bumps and the bruises to prove it Hard knocks! ...without feelin' the burn And I ain't got nothin' that I did not earn Chasin' that ooooh still hittin' the books Studying Donnie and Stevie Learn to sail the hooks Talk about those hard knocks Got the bumps and the bruises to prove it Hard knocks ................. Hard knocks I torn the streets Hard knocks Had a real good teacher named Mr. Life Didn't teach no chemistry But he taught me how to fight Didn't teach biology But I learned it from the birds and the bees Said stay close to your friends Even closer to your enemies oh yeah yeah yeah Graduated from hard knocks I got my education And hard knocks Gettin' in and out of situations Hard knocks Got the bumps and the bruises to prove it Hard knocks!