I don't know why
Mia X Lyrics

There's so much trouble in my life
The singer is overwhelmed with the difficulties they are facing.

Sometimes it gets so bad I just breakdown and cry
The singer becomes so emotional that they cannot help but cry.

I got my rent to pay and it's overdue
The singer is struggling financially and is behind on their rent.

Don't wanna sale my body just to make it through
The artist refuses to resort to prostitution to make ends meet.

You see I can't depend upon no man
The artist does not rely on any man for support or stability.

To be responsible or even understand
The singer knows that no man is dependable or empathetic towards their situation.

It's just the way it is at this point and time
The singer is resigned to the current state of affairs and accepts it as it is.

Sometimes it gets so scared unless it blows my mind
The artist finds their situation to be so overwhelming that it becomes frightening.

Me and my homegirls, we got a plan
The artist and their friends have devised a strategy to overcome their difficulties.

Every night at seven we'll take things in our own hands
The artist and their friends plan to take control of their lives every evening at 7 pm.

Now we can play around, let's make some ends
The singer suggests they utilize their resources to make money and improve their situation.

I got my hustle on cause money's my best friend
The artist emphasizes that money is their greatest asset and they work hard to earn it.

I wanna be stress free, rest easy at night
The singer longs for a life where they can be free of worry and sleep peacefully.

But there's so much drama goin' on in my life
The singer is dealing with numerous problems or complications in their life.

These days, nights missed get you labeled naive
The singer notes that in recent times, missing out on certain things could be seen as being ignorant or inexperienced.

And commons get taking for stupidity
The artist has observed how the less informed members of society can be taken advantage of or exploited.

So I keep my guard up in this macho world
The artist is cautious in a society that is dominated by masculine characteristics.

Cause everybody's running game on mama's little girl
The singer, being a young woman, is aware that she can be easily deceived or manipulated by men.

We getting babies from shady, wanna-be playas
The singer draws attention to the fact that some men lack integrity in their dealings with women, and some women bear children with these types of men.

Who wanna lay us, stick ya, hit ya, forget ya while we stay up
The artist has experienced men who only want to use them for sex and leave them with nothing.

Crying till our eyes are swollen
The artist's emotional turmoil is so intense that they cry until their eyes are puffy and swollen.

Single mothers got the weight of the world on they shoulders
The artist empathizes with women who are raising children alone because they have to carry a tremendous amount of responsibility.

Want em' to hold us and tell us it's gon' be alright
The singer wants someone to give them emotional support and assurance that everything will be okay.

Even the hardest sister needs a good man in her life
The artist contends that even the strongest women need a supportive partner in their life.

I paid the price and my life is still in a damper
The singer has already experienced unfavorable consequences as a result of their actions yet they still struggle.

After times of dirty dancing, get the babies pampers
The singer alludes to the idea that women sometimes have to engage in sexual activity to provide for their children.

And don't talk about the welfare and how they knock us
The singer challenges people who criticize welfare recipients as if it is easy to live off of government aid.

Knowing that chump change can't provide nothing proper
The artist understands that the small amount of money provided by welfare is insufficient for stabilizing their financial situation.

While the doctors give us new-age birth control
The artist mentions the prevalence of modern contraceptives offered by medical professionals.

They make the swollen to skinny
The singer recalls how birth control can impact a woman's weight.

Bleeding constantly or missing monthly, scrapping pennies
The singer describes the physical side effects they experienced due to birth control use, which led them to have financial difficulties.

While my kid's daddy slinging those Z's
The artist's ex-partner is selling drugs to make money.

But ain't doing shit for neither one of these
The artist is frustrated that their former partner is not helping with their child's upbringing.

Should I ease up, grab a case, and set it off like Jada
The artist is thinking about engaging in illegal activities, much like the character in the movie Set It Off played by Jada Pinkett Smith.

Break with the paper, get in a comfort zone from pullin' capers
The singer believes that they could attain financial security by committing crimes.

Makes us wanna holler, scream, and shout and say
The artist is so exasperated that they feel like screaming to release their frustration.

Oh father, why I got live this way
The singer addresses a higher authority, lamenting the difficulties they have faced in their life.

All my sisters keep ya head up, we ain't giving up without a fight
The singer encourages other women to stay strong and to keep fighting despite their struggles.

There's been a struggle but pretty soon we gonna bubble
The singer believes that their situation will improve soon, and they will prosper.

Though trouble be knocking on my door like every 24-7
The artist acknowledges that their problems are constant and persistent.

Heaven knows that I like to keep the bills in check and
The artist values financial stability and is diligent in managing their expenses.

Letting my kids down on they birthday
The singer is worried they might disappoint their children on their birthdays due to their financial woes.

Gnaws at my heart and tears me apart
The singer is emotionally distraught when they cannot provide for their children on special occasions.

Can't let it go like this
The artist refuses to accept the situation and is determined to provide for their children despite the challenges.

Racing through the malls at Christmas time, Babylon
The artist feels rushed and overwhelmed during the holiday season due to societal pressure to spend money.

Got my mind on trip, December 25th ain't gotta bit
The artist dislikes the consumerism that is associated with Christmas, which detracts from the true meaning of the holiday.

To do with Christ or his birth
The singer feels disconnected from the original spiritual significance of Christmas.

Greedy devils give us pagan, holler
The artist criticizes those who commercialize and exploit holidays for profit.

And profit off us give praise for better days
The singer believes that corporations exploit consumers and take advantage of their desire for comfort and security.

Better be ahead of what I said
The singer emphasizes that they must always be alert and prepared for whatever may come their way.

Third, I can see I can destroy the mental chains on our enslaved brains
The singer believes that they can break free of the mental bondage that inhibits them from achieving their goals.

Cocaine, be the aim, be the means of profit
The artist suggests that drug trafficking is the surest way to make a profit.

But logically it tells me I'm going to jail and getting killed
Although selling drugs may be profitable, the artist acknowledges that it is a dangerous and illegal profession that could lead to the loss of life and freedom.

Oh well, I gotta do what I gotta
The singer accepts that they will do whatever is necessary to provide for their family.

Until a new day when I don't have to ask why I live this way
The singer looks forward to a time when they will no longer have to struggle financially or emotionally.

[Chorus] I don't know why I live this way (I don't know why I live this way) I don't know why I live this way (Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah, yeah) I don't know why I live this way (I don't know why I live this way) I don't know why I live this way (Don't know why, I live this way)
The chorus is a recurring acknowledgment of the artist's confusion and frustration regarding their difficult circumstances.