Released: July 23, 1994
Featuring: D’Angelo Tevin Campbell Gerald Levert R. Kelly El DeBarge Raphael Saadiq Brian McKnight Stokley Aaron Hall Joe Keith Sweat Kevon Edmonds Melvin Edmonds Joe Little III Christopher Williams
Songwriter: Luther Archer D’Angelo
Producer: D’Angelo Brian McKnight Bob Power
Mmm, mhm, mhm-hmm
Yeah, yeah
[Verse 1: 1-Tevin Campbell, 2-El DeBarge, 3-Gerald Levert, 4-Raphael Saadiq, 5-Brian McKnight, 6-Stokley]
1-When I was a young boy
I had visions of fame
2-And they were wild and they were free
They were blessed with my name
3-And then I grew older
And I saw what's to see
That the world is full of pain
And my dreams they left me
4-And then I got stronger
And tired of the pain
5-That's when I picked up the pieces
And I regained my name
1-And I fought hard, y'all
To carve out my place
6-And right now you could ask me
And it all seems in vain
[Pre-Chorus: B.M.U. & (Gerald Levert)]
Your dreams ain't easy (Your dreams ain't easy)
You just stick by your plan (You just stick by your plan)
To go from boys to men (Go from boys to men)
You must act like a man (You gotta act like a man)
When it gets hard, y'all (When it gets hard, y'all)
You just grab what you know (Grab what you know)
Stand up tall and don't you fall (And my background sing)
[Chorus: B.M.U., Tevin Campbell, Stokley]
(You will know) You will know (Yeah yeah)
You will know
You will know (You will know, you will know)
You will know
[Verse 2: 1-Keith Sweat, 2-Melvin Edmonds, 3-Joe Little III, 4-R. Kelly]
1-And I know you're cryin'
2-'Cause it's all in this pain
3-And the things you want you can't have
It just all went away
4-But life ain't over, woo-hoo
Just grab the wind and make amends
And the vibe will take you far
[Pre-Chorus: B.M.U., Christopher Williams, +Kevon Edmonds+, R. Kelly]
Your dreams ain't easy (Your dreams ain't easy)
You just stick by your plan (+Stick by your plan+)
To go from boys to men (Go from boys to men)
You must act like a man (I know it ain't easy)
When it gets hard, y'all (It gets hard sometimes, yes it does)
You just grab what you know
Stand up tall and don't you fall
(Stand up tall, don't you fall, and you will know)
[Chorus: B.M.U. & (R. Kelly)]
You will know
You will know (You will know)
You will know (Hey, there's no doubt about it)
You will know (Hey, you will know)
[Bridge: B.M.U. & (Joe)]
You will know (You will know)
You will know (Hey, hey)
You will know (You will know, yeah)
Oh, you will know (Hey)
[Pre-Chorus: B.M.U., Aaron Hall, Brian McKnight]
Your dreams ain't easy (Your dreams ain't easy)
You just stick by your plan (Stick by your plans)
To go from boys to men (Boys to men)
You must act like a man (You will act like a man)
When it gets hard, y'all (It ain't hard, yeah)
You just grab what you know (Grab what you know)
Stand up tall and don't you fall (Oh)
Your dreams ain't easy (Your dreams ain't easy)
You just stick by your plan
To go from boys to men (Boys to men)
You must act like a man (I know it ain't easy)
When it gets hard, y'all
You just grab what you know
Stand up tall and don't you fall
(Come on, D, and sing the song, yeah)
[Chorus: B.M.U. & (D'Angelo)]
You will know (Yeah, yeah)
You will know (You will know, yeah yeah yeah)
You will know
You will know (Hey)
You will know
You will know (You will know)
You will know, you will know
You will know
Oh, you will know