Death Before Dishonour

I've been beaten down, I've been smacked around But I never lost my dignity, I've been betrayed But kept the faith, the same goes for my loyalty I try to be just who I am, but they all want me to be just like them But I just won't pretend Nowadays you've got to have a gun and bad intentions To be where it's at, to get respect It's better to be feared than to be loved That's why the enemy decides the way it's going to be But I shall not participate, I will stay right here Death before dishonor, I'm not gonna be like them But for standing strong and proud I will die with empty hands Death before dishonor, I'm not gonna be disgraced I will hold my head up high, Knowing that there will be nothing in return There's no respect, there's no relief I try to turn my back and be a decent man, a working man Something I can understand, I must be strong and carry on I'll never sell my soul to popularity, that ain't a life for me Honesty and loneliness go hand in hand, I won't pretend To be what I'm supposed to be in the eyes of our society I could tell you many lies and become what I despise But I won't be a part of this I will stay right here Death before dishonor, I'm not gonna be like them But for standing strong and proud I will die with empty hands Death before dishonor, I'm not gonna be disgraced I will hold my head up high, Knowing that there will be nothing in return Death before dishonor, I'm not gonna be like them But for standing strong and proud I will die with empty hands Death before dishonor, I'm not gonna be disgraced I will hold my head up high, Knowing that there will be nothing in return