Found the girl of dreams and I moved out the hood
Had a little baby life was all good
Then I got a call that something was wrong
Next thing I know I was back to my old ways
Doin dirt, till they came and took me away
Now everything I worked for is gone... gone

Ooh I wish I would have turned away
I would still be free today
Sometimes it don't pay to be the hero
Ooh should have looked into my babys eyes
Before I took another mans life
It don't pay to be the hero

Ohh, if there was something I could say to bring him back (ooh, ooh)
I lost him just like that, I wish that we could turn around (ooh, ooh)
Ohh, if there was something I could say to bring him back (ooh, ooh)
I lost him just like that, I wish that we could turn around (ooh, ooh)

Don't know why it was so hard to let that life go
I was mad, wasn't thinking bout my family at home
And how much they depended on me
Now I'm looking at 20 years, no parole
I'm not gon get the chance to see my baby grow
And what's he gonna think about his daddy... daddy oh

Ooh I wish I would have turned away
I would still be free today
Sometimes it don't pay to be the hero
Ooh should have looked into my babys eyes
Before I took another mans life
It don't pay to be the hero

Ohh, if there was something I could say to bring him back (ooh, ooh)
I lost him just like that, I wish that we could turn around (ooh, ooh)
Ohh, if there was something I could say to bring him back (ooh, ooh)
I lost him just like that, I wish that we could turn around (ooh, ooh)

So many nights I don't sleep (nights I don't sleep)
Cause I think about the things that I've seen (things that I've seen)
They almost really driving me crazy (driving me crazy)
Instead a piece of glass separates my family from me

Ooh I wish I would have turned away (wish I would of turned away)
I would still be free today (yeah)
Sometimes it don't pay to be the hero (it don't pay, noo)
Ooh should have looked into my babys eyes (looked into my babys eyes)
Before I took another mans life
It don't pay to be the hero (it don't pay to be the heerroo)

Ohh, if there was something I could say to bring him back (ooh, ooh)(noo)
I lost him just like that, I wish that we could turn around (ooh, ooh)(I wish that we could turn around)
Ohh, if there was something I could say to bring him back (ooh, ooh)
I lost him just like that, I wish that we could turn around (ooh, ooh)

Found the girl of my dreams and I moved out the hood
Had a litte baby, life was all good
Then I got a call that something was wrong...