Released: April 13, 2004

Songwriter: Akon

Producer: Akon

[Verse 1]
I'm steady tryna find the motive (Motive)
Why I do what I do?
Freedom ain't getting no closer (Closer)
No matter how far I go
My car is stolen (Stolen)
No registration (-Tration)
Cops patrollin' (Patrollin')
Now they done stop me and I get locked up

[Chorus]
They won't let me out
They won't let me out
I'm locked up
They won't let me out (No!)
They won't let me out
I'm locked up
They won't let me out
They won't let me out
I'm locked up
They won't let me out (No!)
They won't let me out

[Verse 2]
Heading uptown to re-up (Re-up)
Back with a couple keys (Keys)
Corner block's on fire (Fire)
Undercovers dressed as fiends (Fiends)
Making so much money (Money)
Product's moving fast (Fast!)
Put away the stash
As I sold the last bag
Fucked around and got locked up

[Chorus]
They won't let me out
They won't let me out (My nigga, I'm locked up)
They won't let me out (No!)
They won't let me out
I got locked up
They won't let me out
They won't let me out (Baby girl, I'm locked up)
They won't let me out (No!)
They won't let me out

[Verse 3]
‘Cause visitation no longer comes by (Comes by)
Seems like they forgot about me ('Bout me)
Commissary is getting empty (Empty)
My cell mates getting food without me (Without me)
Can't wait to get out
And move forward with my life (Ooh no, with my life)
Got a family that loves me
And wants me to do right
But instead, I'm here locked up

[Chorus]
They won't let me out
They won't let me out (Ohh! I'm locked up)
They won't let me out (No!)
They won't let me out (My nigga, I'm locked up)
They won't let me out
Oh, oh, oh! (They won't let me out)
I'm locked up
They won't let me out (No!)
They won't let me out

[Outro]
Can you pay me a visit? (They won't let me out)
Send me some magazines? (They won't let me out)
Send me some money orders? (They won't let me out) (No!)
Pay me a visit, baby (They won't let me out)
‘Cause I'm locked up (They won't let me out)
Where's my lawyer? (They won't let me out)
I'm locked up (They won't let me out) (No!)
Get me out of here (They won't let me out)
I'm locked up, they won't let me out
They won't let me out (Baby, I'm locked up)
They won't let me out (No!)
Where's my niggas on the lock-down? (They won't let me out)
Damn, I'm locked up, they won't let me out
I'm locked up, they won't let me out
Ohhh! They won't let me out
Can you please accept my phone calls? (They won't let me out)
I'm locked up, locked up, locked up

Akon

Akon (born Aliaume Akon Thiam), is a Senegalese-American Grammy-nominated and platinum-selling rapper, songwriter, singer and businessman. His trademark is singing the word ‘convict’ at the beginning of most of his songs.

Akon was born in the US but spent much of childhood in the West African country Senegal. There, he learned to play five instruments including the djembe, guitar and drums. Early on Akon signed a deal with Elektra Records, but was later dropped from the label.

His career took off when Lil Zane introduced Akon to music executive DeVyne Stephens, who signed him to his label UpFront Records and became his longtime manager and business partner.