Get By - Talib Kweli

We sell, crack to our own out the back of our homes

We smell the musk at the dusk in the crack of the dawn

We go through Epidodes II, like Attack of the Clones

Work 'til we break our back and you hear the crack of the bone

To get by.

just to get by Just to get by, just to get by We commute to computers

Spirits stay mute while you eagles spread rumors

We survivalists, turned to consumers

To get by.

just to get by Just to get by, just to get by Ask Him why some people got to live in a trailer, cuss like a sailor

I paint a picture with the pen like Norman Mailer

Me and Willa raised three daughters all by herself, with no help

I think about a struggle and I find the strength in myself

These words, melt in my mouth

They hot, like the jail cell in the South

Before my nigga Core bailed me out

To get by.

just to get by Just to get by, just to get by We do or die like Bed-Stuy through the red sky

with the window of the red eye

Let the lead fly, some G. Rap shit, Livin’to Let Die

This morning, I woke up Feeling brand new and I jumped up Feeling my highs, and my lows

In my soul, and my goals

Just to stop smokin, and stop drinkin

And I’ve been thinkin — I’ve got my reasons

Just to get (by), just to get (by)

Just to get (by), just to get (by)

(ba ba ba, ba da bada, ba da bada, ba da bada, ba da badahh

Just to get (by), just to get (by)

Just to get (by by by by by by)

(ba ba ba, ba da bada, ba da bada, ba da bada, ba da badahh

Just to get (by), just to get (by)

Just to get (by by by by by by)

We keeping it gangster say fo shizzle, fo sheezy and stayin crunk

Its easy to pull a breezy, smoke trees, and we stay drunk

Yo, I activism — attackin the system, the blacks and latins in prison

Numbers of prison they victim black in the vision

Shit and all they got is rappin to listen to I let them know we missin you, the love is unconditional

Even when the condition is critical, when the livin is miserable

Your position is pivotal, I ain’t bullshittin you

Now, why would I lie?

Just to get by?

Just to get by, we get fly

The TV got us reachin for stars

Not the ones between Venus and Mars, the ones that be readin for parts

Some people get breast enhancements and penis enlargers

Saturday sinners Sunday morning at the feet of the Father

They need somethin to rely on, we get high on all types of drug

When, all you really need is love

To get by.

just to get by Just to get by, just to get by Our parents sing like John Lennon, Imagine all the people watch

We rock like Paul McCartney from now until the last Beatle drop

This morning, I woke up Feeling brand new and I jumped up Feeling my high’s, and my low’s

In my soul, and my goals

Just to stop smoking, and stop drinking

And I’ve been thinking — I’ve got my reasons

Just to get (by), just to get (by)

Just to get (by), just to get (by)

Yoyoyo, yo Some people cry, and some people try

Just to get by, for a piece of the pie

You love to eat and get high

We decieve when we lie, and we keepin it fly

Yoyoyo, yo When, the people decide, to keep a disguise

Can’t see they eyes, see the evil inside

But there’s people you find

Strong or feeble in mind, I stay readin the signs