The first time

First time I saw you, you was hopping over a fence
That was before I knew your name & before we 'came friends
The week of finals, I was stretching for P.E
You started banging on the cholos in my class, caused a scene
Threw up the set you claimed, security came- chasing you off of the campus
I knew you was a GEE cuz when you dipped they's talking mad shit
Class continued, semester ended
I saw you walking down my block & we began our friendship
"Wassup, I'm Mimes." "Yo, I'm Reverie, I heard that you was deadly
Got chased out of Franklin carrying a machete! Are you crazy?"
He laughed, explained. If I had half a brain
I would have walked away, but something told me to stay
We conversed for hours- literally
Avenue 66, San Pascual, up & down every street
The sun was setting, "Gotta go," "Can I get your number?"
"Naw. It was nice talking to ya, but I'll see ya later." If I knew then what I know now I would have held you tighter...
If I knew then what I know now I would have held you tighter...

Walking with Coke to Hi Ho for soda & hot cheetos
Seems like I'm running into you every place that we go
She knows you're crazy. I know that maybe
I got a crush on you, been thinking about you lately
Gave you my number but I said, "We're still just friends
So don't get it twisted." It was so simple back then
You started showing up after school just to walk me to the bus
Everybody would be dogging us but we didn't give a fuck
Packing bowls, telling stories, with you it was never boring
Chemistry like that- it should have came with a warning
Take me out to eat, rolling in the Back Streets
Never fucked, never kissed, not even on the cheek
I was too scary, very insecure & unsure
I loved our friendship so much & wanted to keep it pure
I thought we was cool but then you stopped coming around
F*** it.. I guess he just wanted to fuck, I see it now If I knew then what I know now I would have held you tighter...
If I knew then what I know now I would have held you tighter...

Found out he got busted, sent to camp for the first time !
Wrote him a kite, couldn't get him off of my mind
Letters every week turned to letters everyday
Haven't seen the dude in months but I got so much to say
Everybody like, "Who you always writing letters to?"
"To my best friend, homegirl, you should write him too!"
"It seems like you like him cuz your eyes looking helpless
With each letter that comes I could see your heart is melting."
"Girl, you trippen." "Rev, you know I'm right
I know you on that 'fuck love' shit but I see it in your eyes
Why you holding back?" "Well the thing is he's in jail
& we never even kissed, we're just friends, can't you tell?"
"If you really like him girl, you gotta let him know
& when he gets out, ain't no rush, you know you can take it slow."
"But I value him so much as a friend, I don't wanna lose him
It's all good, I know exactly what I'm doing."

If I knew then what I know now I would have held you tighter...
If I knew then what I know now I would have held you tighter...

One day I came home to a letter from you
Told me you loved me with all your heart. What to do ?
Cuz I felt it too, everyday it's growing stronger
You said that you loved me from the first day & can't hide it any longer
I ponder, I think, I reminisce
Back then it was so innocent cuz we were just kids
Years passed & we still keep in touch
So I gotta give a shout out to my first love
Purely platonic, it ain't nothing sexual
But I still think about it, just thought I should let you know
I wish you the best, happiness & peace of mind
So keep your head up homie & don't forget to smile
Remember back then ? Remember when you said
"In the end I pray that if you ain't my lover, you're my friend."
Remember back then ? Remember when you said
"In the end I pray that if you ain't my lover, you're my friend."

If I knew then what I know now I would have held you tighter...
If I knew then what I know now I would have held you tighter...