I know I can   Be what I wanna be   If I work hard at it   I'll be where I wanna be      I know I can, I know I can   Be what I wanna be, be what I wanna be   If I work hard at it   I'll be where I wanna be, I'll be where I wanna be      Baby, boys and girls listen up   You can be anything in the world, in God we trust   An architect, doctor, maybe an actress   But nothing comes easy it takes much practice      Like, I met a woman who's becomin a star   She was very beautiful, leavi'n people in awe   Singin' songs, Leena Hawn   But the younger version hung with the wrong person      Got her strung on the sniffin' up drugs all in the nose   Could have died so young, now looks ugly and old   No fun 'cuz now when she reaches for hugs   People hold their ground 'cuz she smells of corrosion and death      Watch the company you keep and the crowd you bring   'Cuz they came to do drugs and you came to sing   So if you gonna be the best, I'ma tell you how   Put your hands in the air and take a bow      I know I can, I know I can   Be what I wanna be, be what I wanna be   If I work hard at it   I'll be where I wanna be, I'll be where I wanna be      I know I can, I know I can   Be what I wanna be, be what I wanna be   If I work hard at it   I'll be where I wanna be, I'll be where I wanna be      Baby, boys and girls listen again   This is for grown lookin' girls who only 10   The ones who watch videos and do what they see   As cute as can be      Up in the club with fake ID's   Careful 'fore you meet a man with HIV   You can host a TV like Oprah Winfrey   Whatever you decide      Be careful, some men be rapists, so act your age   Don't pretend to be older than you are   Give yourself time to grow   You thinkin' he can give you wealth      But so young boys you can use a lotta help you know   You thinkin' life's all about smokin' and ice   You don't wanna be my age and can't read and write   Beggin' different women for a place to sleep at night      Smart boys turn 'em in and do whatever they wish   If you believe you can achieve   Then say it like this      I know I can, I know I can   Be what I wanna be, be what I wanna be   If I work hard at it   I'll be where I wanna be, I'll be where I wanna be      I know I can, I know I can   Be what I wanna be, be what I wanna be   If I work hard at it   I'll be where I wanna be, I'll be where I wanna be      Baby, 'fore we came to this country we were kings and queens   Never porch monkeys, there was empires and Africa called Kush   Timbuktu where every race came to get books   To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans   Asian, Arabs and gave them gold      When gold was converted to money it all changed   Money then became empowerment for Europeans   The Persian military invaded   They heard about the gold, the teachings and everything sacred      Africa was almost robbed naked, savery was money   So they began makin' slave ships   Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went   He was shocked at the mountains with black faces      Shot up their nose to impose what basically   Still goes on today you see   If the truth is told the youth can grow   Can learn to survive until they gain control      Nobody says you hafta be gangstas   Read more, learn more, change the globe   Ghetto children do your thing   Hold your head up little man      You're a king   Young princess when you get your wedding ring   Your man is sayin, "She's my queen"      I know I can, I know I can   Be what I wanna be, be what I wanna be   If I work hard at it   I'll be where I wanna be, I'll be where I wanna be      I know I can, I know I can   Be what I wanna be, be what I wanna be   If I work hard at it   I'll be where I wanna be, I'll be where I wanna be      Save the music ya'll   Save the music ya'll   Save the music ya'll   Save the music ya'll   Save the music