We Get By
"We Get By" is the first offer off of JoJo's second mixtape, "Agápē". It wa… Read Full Bio ↴"We Get By" is the first offer off of JoJo's second mixtape, "Agápē". It was released on November 15th, 2012 on internet for free download, reaching over 20,000 plays in the first day after the release. The song is apparently about her long time struggle with her label, which has been holding back her third album for years. In a recent interview to Rap-Up Magazine she burst out when talking about her new mixtape, saying she now feels like she has "no fucks to give".

We Get By
JoJo Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Laying Down on my Hardwood Floor again
Watching all my deepest fears just crawling on the ceilin'
These colonial bricks and beams are just not enough to hold me
All I got is my hopes and dreams and this cranberry sloly

I Get By
I Get By
I Get By
I Get By

I Get High
I Get High

But tomorrow's goodbye

(So) I Get By
I Get By
I Get By
I Get By

I Get By
I Get By

Cause tomorrow's goodbye (yea)

I took the Red Line all the way to South E
When I leave this place will anybody really miss me
If I stay on this train all night can I end at the beginning
Smoking on this Cali green to just stop the world from spinning

(But) I Get By
I Get By
I Get By
I Get By

I Get High
I Get High

Cause tomorrow's goodbye

I Get By
I Get By
I Get By
I Get By

We get high
I get high
Cause tomorrow's goodbye

Sunset, my wishlist I'll give u that
Hollywood and the bullshit I deal with that
That life I left, I'm not going back
I can't work a 9 to 5

I'm getting lost just by myself
Baby I'll stop being someone else
I'll take the PCH down to my Cali dream (hey)

We Get By
We Get By
We Get By
We Get By

We get high
We get high

Cause tomorrow's goodbye (Cause tomorrow's goodbye)

I Get By
I Get By
I Get By
I Get By

I Get High
I Get High

Cause tomorrow's goodbye (Cause tomorrow's goodbye)

We Get By
We Get By
We Get By
We Get By

We get high
We get high

Cause tomorrow's goodbye (Cause tomorrow's goodbye)
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye

I Get By
I Get By
I Get By
I Get By
I Get By
I Get By





I get High
Cause tomorrow's goodbye (bye)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of JoJo's song We Get By reflects the inner turmoil and struggles of a person who is going through a tough phase in life. In the beginning, the person is lying down on the hardwood floor, watching their deepest fears crawling on the ceiling. The colonial bricks and beams, which symbolize stability, are not enough to hold this person. They are left with nothing but their hopes and dreams and a cranberry sloly, which could be interpreted as an escape mechanism. Despite everything, the person is determined to get by and get high. They repeat these lines throughout the song, which could indicate their resolve and determination to keep moving forward, even when faced with obstacles.


The person then takes the Red Line all the way to South E, trying to escape their present condition. They wonder if anyone will miss them when they leave their current place. They smoke Cali green to try and stop the world from spinning, perhaps symbolic of numbing oneself from the reality of their situation. Despite all of this, the person is determined to get by and get high, relying on these mantras to help them through tough times.


Overall, We Get By is a powerful and introspective song that explores themes of struggle, hope, and perseverance. By repeating the mantra of "I Get By" and "I Get High," JoJo conveys a sense of determination and resilience.


Line by Line Meaning

Laying Down on my Hardwood Floor again
I am lying down on my wooden floor


Watching all my deepest fears just crawling on the ceilin'
I am feeling anxious and my fears are consuming me


These colonial bricks and beams are just not enough to hold me
My surroundings are not sufficient to keep me grounded


All I got is my hopes and dreams and this cranberry sloly
I am holding onto my aspirations and a drink to help me cope


I Get By
Despite my struggles, I manage to survive


I Get High
I use drugs to escape my reality


But tomorrow's goodbye
I know that tomorrow brings a new day and new challenges


I took the Red Line all the way to South E
I rode the train to South E


When I leave this place will anybody really miss me
I wonder if anyone will care if I leave


If I stay on this train all night can I end at the beginning
I wish I could start over again


Smoking on this Cali green to just stop the world from spinning
I use marijuana to calm down


We Get By
We manage to survive despite our struggles


Sunset, my wishlist I'll give u that
I enjoy watching the sunset and cherish it


Hollywood and the bullshit I deal with that
I am tired of the fake and superficial culture in Hollywood


That life I left, I'm not going back
I don't want to go back to my old life


I can't work a 9 to 5
I don't want to work a regular job


I'm getting lost just by myself
I am feeling lost and uncertain


Baby I'll stop being someone else
I will stop pretending to be someone else


I'll take the PCH down to my Cali dream (hey)
I will pursue my dream of living in California


Goodbye
The song and the story has ended




Contributed by Stella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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TRACKS
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Jason Smalls

[Verse 1]
Laying down on my hardwood floor again
Watching all my deepest fears just crawling on the ceiling
These colonial bricks and beams are just not enough to hold me,
All I got is my hopes and dreams and this cranberry stoli

[Chorus]
I get by I get by
I get by I get by,
I get high I get high
But tomorrow’s goodbye
So I get by I get by
I get by I get by
I get by I get by
Cause tomorrow’s goodbye, yea

[Verse 2]
I took the Red Line all the way to Southie
When I leave this place will anybody really miss me
If I stay on this train all night can I end at the beginning
Smoking on this Cali green to just stop the world from spinning

[Chorus]
But I get by I get by
I get by I get by
I get high I get high
Have tomorrow’s goodbye
So we get by we get by
We get by we get by
We get high we get high
Cause tomorrow’s goodbye


[Verse 3]
Sunset, my wishlist I’ll give you that
Hollywood and the bulls*** I deal with that
That life I left, I’m not going back
I can’t work a 9 to 5
I’m getting lost just to find myself
Maybe I’ll stop being someone else
I’ll take the PCH down to my Cali dream, hey

[Chorus]
We get by we get by
We get by we get by
We get high we get high
Cause tomorrow’s goodbye
(Cause tomorrow’s goodbye)
I get by I get by
I get by I get by
I get high I get high
Cause tomorrow’s goodbye
(Cause tomorrow’s goodbye)

(Background Phone Conversation)
"I dunno lately, I've just been feeling like..whatever comes my way
I'm gonna be just fine - I can deal with it
I've been growing up where I definitely feel like someone's watching over me
So I know...it'll be okay. I believe in myself
So..."


[Outro]
We get by we get by
We get by we get by
We get high we get high
Cause tomorrow’s goodbye
(Cause tomorrow’s goodbye)



All comments from YouTube:

TURRACA

THIS GIRL HAS TRUE AND PURE TALENT.

Sarina Lee

I love this song so much JoJo. It definitely got true hip hop and soul

A. Sanders

I have no idea why she is left underground. She's always had talent.

Van Houten

She had trouble with her former label. But she's with Atlantic now, check out her new single!

Queen Najee

Queen Najee *ain't. Not "and" 😶

1 More Replies...

mj_king

I love this song! Its got a throwback sound but its fresh and new. This is what she should be singing in my opinion.

Jason Smalls

[Verse 1]
Laying down on my hardwood floor again
Watching all my deepest fears just crawling on the ceiling
These colonial bricks and beams are just not enough to hold me,
All I got is my hopes and dreams and this cranberry stoli

[Chorus]
I get by I get by
I get by I get by,
I get high I get high
But tomorrow’s goodbye
So I get by I get by
I get by I get by
I get by I get by
Cause tomorrow’s goodbye, yea

[Verse 2]
I took the Red Line all the way to Southie
When I leave this place will anybody really miss me
If I stay on this train all night can I end at the beginning
Smoking on this Cali green to just stop the world from spinning

[Chorus]
But I get by I get by
I get by I get by
I get high I get high
Have tomorrow’s goodbye
So we get by we get by
We get by we get by
We get high we get high
Cause tomorrow’s goodbye


[Verse 3]
Sunset, my wishlist I’ll give you that
Hollywood and the bulls*** I deal with that
That life I left, I’m not going back
I can’t work a 9 to 5
I’m getting lost just to find myself
Maybe I’ll stop being someone else
I’ll take the PCH down to my Cali dream, hey

[Chorus]
We get by we get by
We get by we get by
We get high we get high
Cause tomorrow’s goodbye
(Cause tomorrow’s goodbye)
I get by I get by
I get by I get by
I get high I get high
Cause tomorrow’s goodbye
(Cause tomorrow’s goodbye)

(Background Phone Conversation)
"I dunno lately, I've just been feeling like..whatever comes my way
I'm gonna be just fine - I can deal with it
I've been growing up where I definitely feel like someone's watching over me
So I know...it'll be okay. I believe in myself
So..."


[Outro]
We get by we get by
We get by we get by
We get high we get high
Cause tomorrow’s goodbye
(Cause tomorrow’s goodbye)

Ayysia Dansby

The ending of this song is totally my life right now. Prue talent

atlnikka

My favorite song by her this shoulda been a single on the radio

LaToya Woods

I love this!! The feeling takes me on a neo soul train ride!!

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