[Intro: N.O.R.E.]
Yeah, life in exile, yo
It's tight [?], yo (What a shame)
Life in exile, shit on you while they locked down
You know, why you lie? (What a shame)
Word, [?], want you to take care, yo (What a shame)
Word, it's for real, real, yo, yo (What a shame)

[Verse 1: N.O.R.E.]
Nuclear War Report, dunn blew after court
He claimed righteous, the God was jeweled down with ices
My man locked up, in the beast, hit me on the jack
("Yo son, I need loot in this piece!")
I got you, already blessed up, Carhartt, Tommy Hil'
Guess appeal, accept collect call, and keep it real
But I was locked for three, son, you didn't know me
Your bitch had you too, told you, don't send me no loot
But I survive in Green, shorty sent me cream, Adine
Moms like, "Them n***as ain't real in your team"
Bring the court rap, my first weak, beef with the staff
Son, where you was at? Called you on the jack
Heard you moved from Iraq to Iran and cold ran
Ran on me, but you supposed to be my family
Tables turned, I'm in Zoo York, you up north
I'm in the cockpit, coppin' Avirex shit
You in the pen-ile, straight foul with crocodile
Pretty boy, my little man you like a little boy
Taught you the crime life, you blame me, you weaklin'
Yucked up, commissary low, now you thinkin'
While you locked, I got the block locked with padlock
Jealousy and envy, towards me
Word got back to me, you got somethin' for me
Musolini, yo come and see me
[Chorus]
What a shame
What a shame
What a shame
What a shame
What a shame

[Verse 2: Royal Flush]
Now when you got locked up, livin' plush, sneakers and such
Always flipped it up, on the phone line, you ran it up
Say you stressed and such, few n***as, you had to touch
Plus the shit's rough, sendin' you balloons, weeded up
Thug it up, keep it tight 'cause your girl ain't write
It's all a struggle in life to sell things and pay the price
But I'm with you, can't let you down son, I miss you
But back on the streets, the police want me with you
It's official, I'm tryin' to blow them lands like a missile (Right)
Holdin' my pistol to keep it real when I'm with you
Commissary got hit you, Latin Kings try to rip you
Suffer razors an issue, blowin' n***as like a whistle
GO's is tryin' to snitch you, watch the beam before they frisk you
So just lift weights, I'm layin' low until release date
Word up, son, can't wait 'til you come home...

[Chorus]
What a shame
What a shame
What a shame
What a shame
What a shame
[Verse 3: Royal Flush]
Direct sale, judge face to face, no bail
Take it to trial, spend a year on the Isle
First day, Sing-Sing, walkin' through the gates
Stuff's a shank, wild n***a walkin' with the link
We was cellblocked, think about, Flush want the top
Put my pictures up, relax for a minute, kick it up
Watch the top cat, La Familia got the coke in that
I need a part in that, find ten dojas, give 'em dap
Soup 'em up, make 'em feel wild as fuck, now what up?

[Verse 4: N.O.R.E.]
I know my real family, new people try to be around me
Try to surround me, gold teeth, ganja leaf
Locked up chief, well let that be
Doorags and kufis, gave me a razor, recruit me
Now I'll slang, and contraband to the bing
You workin' in the kitchen, ice-pick you, now you stitchin'
You Scarface, lost ya face, is laced up
So what? You got cut, then you told police
Keep it real in the beast, same thing as the streets
Wild cats tell, play PC inside a jail
Yo me, did three, never in PC
Stand freely, Musolini, we just a heemy
Life in exile, people like we, penitentiary
Did time, all evolve with crime
Desert mind, police hit strip, caught mine
What, what! What, what! What, what!
[Chorus]
What a shame
What a shame
What a shame
What a shame
What a shame