Lyrics:

[Intro:]
Woah momma, woah poppa
You should have seen your little son
Uh!

[Verse 1:]
The first time the youth, come a New York
Them tell him, \'youth, you mustn't skylark\'
\'Learn a trade, or go to school\'
\'And don't you turn yourself inna fool\'

[Hook:]
But now him gone, a Riker's Island
Him never waan go a Riker's Island

[Verse 2:]
Him used to walk and screw up him face
But now him spending 'nuff time up-state
They used to tell him, \'understand\'
But now dem find him with a M-1
Inna 'im pocket, him have a million
So

[Hook:]
Now him gone, a Riker's Island
Him never want go a Riker's Island
But now him gone a Riker's Island
Mmmm, oy

[Verse 3:]
Him used to chuck it, from Brooklyn to Bronx
And a gwan like a big top Ranks
But 'nuff a him government response
Cause

[Hook:]
Him gone, a Riker's Island
He never want go a Riker's Island
Now him gone a Riker's Island
He never want go a Riker's Island

[Verse 4:]
No mamma, I wish you were around
To see your youth how him going down
Him used to chuck it, from town to town
Him used to shot people, all around
Uptown, and downtown, and all around

[Hook:]
So, now him gone, a Riker's Island
He never want go a Riker's Island
Now him gone, a Riker's Island
He never want go a Riker's Island, Oh no
Him never waan go deh, no

No, no, no, no...mmmm

[Repeat Verse 2:]
They used to tell him stop screw up him face
But now 'im spending time somewhere up-state
Dem used to tell him to, \'understand\'
Inna him pocket, dem find a million
And now dem find him with a M-1
So

[Hook:]
Now him gone, a Riker's Island
He never want go a Riker's Island
And now him gone, a Riker's Island
He never want reach a Riker's Island

[Repeat Verse 4:]
But oh sister, he wish you were around
To give him food, even change his gown
He used to roam it from town to town
But government have him under cell-bound

Cause

[Hook:]
Now him gone, a Riker's Island
He never want go a Riker's Island
But now him gone a Riker's Island
He never want go a Riker's Island

[Repeat Verse 1:]
The first time deh youth come a New York
Dem used to tell him youth don't skylark
Learn a trade or go to school
And don't you make no one take you for fool

[Hook:]
But now him gone, a Riker's Island
Yes him gone, a Riker's Island

[Repeat Verse 3:]
Dem used to chuck it from Brooklyn to Bronx
And a gwan like the most top Ranks
But 'nuff a him government response
'Ca

[Hook:]
Yes him gone a Riker's Island
He never want go a Riker's Island
But now him gone a Riker's Island
He shouldn't mix up with di don man
And now him gone a Riker's Island
Mmmmmmm...{fades}