She walked into this world I made on a Little park bench under the shade Of a sweet gum tree whose leaves were red and brown I looked up and I saw her face That was full of fortitude and grace She said, "If you don't mind, can I please sit down?" See I've been working since the morning When the sun starts settling in That's when I walk across the town to where my second job begins I got two kids I must feed, I've got no time to sit with them and read The counselors keep on telling me my boy's got special needs But don't we all got issues? It's just the stuff we live through Everybody's got their coffee stains I ain't complaining, I'm just saying That I ain't been to Harvard And I ain't got no big degrees Everything I know, I learned it on these bitter streets And I, can't afford the good life But only real love comes for free And some days my head's up in the clouds But I'm allowed to dream As she got up and walked away I said, "Goodbye," I gave a wave And watched that lady fade into the crowd And I thought maybe we're the same, hey We both cry and we feel shame And we both know there still some things We've yet to figure out See I've been writing since the morning When the sun starts settling in I cross the town to check the sound Where my second job begins I've got two kids to feed, some doubts and insecurities I pray that I provide a life for everything they need But don't we all got issues? It's just the stuff we live through Everybody's got their coffee stains I ain't complaining, I'm just singing That I ain't been to Harvard And I ain't got no big degrees Everything I know, I learned it on these crazy streets And I, can't afford the good life But only real love comes for free And some days my head's up in the clouds But I'm allowed to dream Oh, woah-oh-oh As I'm heading home, I think of how Her shift is probably ending now And I'll be on a plane this time tomorrow Some folks are on an uphill climb Some coast along on borrowed time Still others need a little time to borrow But don't we all got issues? It's just the stuff we live through Everybody's got their coffee stains I can't forget, the words she said remain That I ain't been to Harvard And I ain't got no big degrees Everything I know, I learned it on these bitter streets And I, can't afford the good life But only real love comes for free And some days my head's up in the clouds But I'm allowed to dream Oh, woah-oh-oh But I'm allowed to dream I ain't been to Harvard But I'm allowed to dream