"Brooklyn Now" - Lyrics by John Forte
(CBS News) Brooklyn native and former Fugees producer John Forte created "Brooklyn Now," the theme song for "Brooklyn DA," and has developed a collection of original works that will be featured throughout the new, six-part documentary series.
"At the very heart of these stories we have triumph, we have adversity, we have joy," Forte says of "Brooklyn DA." "I see life unfolding and us being blessed enough to have a glimpse into these stories on a very personal level."
Read: Composer John Forte's history gives soul to "Brooklyn DA" theme
Watch: John Forte's biggest mistake
"Brooklyn Now"
VERSE 1
Brooklyn, sun. The rest is his -
Legion and Livonia, God, 336
Who cleaned the streets with ammonia when it smelled like -
I've been away, but homesick never felt like this
I'd be remiss not to remind you of my actions and where I want the youth to be
I'm ambitious
He said, "Times are vicious when the whole worlds against us!
We told the old heads, but none of them would listen
So we teach ourselves, police ourselves
Learned to do a little business - at least I sell"
Oh, well, can I argue?
I'm just passing back
You've got a life to live, shorty, master that
Just one more to leave on you
What I see in you reminds me of me when I was younger
From your brown skin, your thirst and your hunger
I pray you don't fall like I did and do a number
VERSE 2
I hunker down and focus up because I know what's up
The more I learn the more I know that I don't know enough
So I don't recap some mishaps - That's too bizarre
They say narrow is the way, but that's few and far
And what you do today can be your fall tomorrow
Your Q&A could be your coup de grace
Beneath the surface I travel where the earth is
Make no mistake, my birthplace gave me purpose
I'm immersed in that type of thought that tells me life is short
And life for lifers isn't livin' - more like life support
I'm from where writers used cars for their memoirs
An iron chef was a czar with a Gem Star
And a charge was a call when you balled work
Before it meant the judges and the law clerks
The age of innocence preceded sentences
Forever blessed, do remember what the tenet is