Yeah man, these folks think
Just 'cause I won some American Idol show
Everything ain't the same

Man you know they see me on TV
Or up in the crib every week
And you think everything is all good
I mean, it really is all good man, keep secure

From hangin' out late in the Elma
To Beverly Hills, California
From heatin' up the leftovers
To becomin' a restaurant owner

From a little block, from a little hood
To the whole world and it's all good
And if ya didn't know
I was a star before the show but if it was

No block, no Ruben
No hood, no Ruben
No boulevards, no Ruben
No corner spots, no Ruben

No stayin' up late nights
Tellin' mama everything gone be alright
And if it was no you
There would be no Ruben

From wearin' my big brother's clothes
To buyin' him a new wardrobe
From listenin' to Fred Hammond
To hangin' out with Fred Hammond

From a little block from a little hood
To the whole world and it's all good
And if ya didn't know
I was a star before the show but if it was

No block, no Ruben
No hood, no Ruben
No boulevards, no Ruben
No corner spots, no Ruben

No stayin' up late nights
Tellin' mama everything gone be alright
And if it was no you
There would be no Ruben

This goes out to the barbershops
The black man's country club
And this goes out to the single mothers
At the laundry mat foldin' the covers

You're my inspiration
And you've been my motivation
And that's why
I had to do this dedication 'cause if it was

No block, no Ruben
No hood, no Ruben
No boulevards, no Ruben
No corner spots, no Ruben

No stayin' up late nights
Tellin' mama everything gone be alright
And if it was no you
There would be no Ruben

No block, no Ruben
No hood and no Ruben
No boulevards, no Ruben
No corner spots, no Ruben

No stayin' up late nights
Tellin' mama everything gone be alright
And if it was no you
There would be no Ruben

Hey Ruben let's take 'em to church

If it wasn't for the block, no Ruben
If it wasn't for the hood, no Ruben
If it wasn't for the boulevards, no Ruben
And and the corner spots, no Ruben

Stayin' up late nights
Tellin' mama everything gone be all right
And if it was for you there would be
There would be, no Ruben

Hey man I don't think they heard you
Ruben let's take them to church

If it wasn't for the block, I said no Ruben
If it wasn't for the hood, no Ruben
If it wasn't for the boulevards, no Ruben
And and the corner spots, no Ruben

Stayin' up late nights
Tellin' mama everything gone be all right
Let it be, let it be, no Ruben