A remix was later released featuring verses from fellow American rappers Mos Def, Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, Kanye West and Snoop Dogg. A full-fledged posse cut, the former three are also from Brooklyn, New York City, like Kweli. The radio version of the remix featured only Busta Rhymes and Jay-Z, with lengthier versions of theirs and Kweli's verses.
A music video was recorded and released in 2003, and, much like the song, it focuses on the lives and struggles of low income people from a wide range of cultural and racial backgrounds living in and around New York City. Parts of the video were filmed in Chinatown and Times Square. The song's producer Kanye West is featured in the video alongside Kweli.
In 2008, Atlanta-based rapper Rocko released a song titled "Dis Morning", from his debut album Self Made, which interpolates Kweli's "Get By". Also in 2008, "Get By" was featured in the comedy film First Sunday, as well as the film's soundtrack. In 2009, North Carolina-bred rapper J. Cole, freestyled over the song's production, which was featured on his 2009 mixtape The Warm Up.
On the December 12, 2016 episode of the American satirical show Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Kweli and writer Ashley Nicole Black modified the lyrics of "Get By" to one that touts the benefits of online encryption.
Get By
Talib Kweli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My Lord
Yeah
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"
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
Just 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
Mi abuela raised three daughters all by herself, with no help
I think about her 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, on some G. Rap shit, "livin' to let die"
This morning, I woke up
Feeling brand new, I jumped up
Feeling my highs (yeah) and my lows (yeah)
In my soul (yeah) 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)
Just to get (by), just to get (by)
Just to get (by-by-by-by-by-by)
Just to get by
Just to get (by), just to get (by)
Just to get (by, by-by)
We keep 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 latin's 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, I jumped up
Feeling my highs (yeah) and my lows (yeah)
In my soul (yeah) 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)
Yo-yo-yo-yo-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 deceive when we lie, and we keepin' it fly
Yo-yo-yo-yo-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
Yo-yo-yo-yo-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 deceive when we lie, and we keepin' it fly
Yo-yo-yo-yo-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
Yo-yo-yo-yo-yo
Talib Kweli's "Get By" is a powerful socio-political commentary on the struggles of ghetto life and the perseverance of those who are living within it. The opening lines of the song state, "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," highlighting the harsh reality that many inner-city residents turn to drug dealing as a means of survival. The verse goes on to describe the physical and emotional toll of the work, with lines like "we go through 'Episodes II' like 'Attack of the Clones', work 'til we break our back and you hear the crack of the bone". Despite this harsh reality, Kweli emphasizes the need to "get by just to get by", to survive in a world where few options are available.
The chorus serves as a reminder that even in the face of adversity, there is always the possibility of change. "This morning I woke up Feeling brand new, I jumped up, Feeling my highs (yeah) and my lows (yeah), In my soul (yeah) and my goals" represents the hope and determination that exists despite everything. The lyrics suggest that change starts with personal responsibility and choices, such as deciding to quit smoking or drinking.
The second verse addresses the broader issues of institutionalized racism and the prison industrial complex. Kweli touches on the disproportionate number of black and Latinx individuals in prison and the limited options available to them once they are released. He also criticizes the portrayal of African Americans in the media, who are often reduced to colloquialisms like "fo shizzle", "fo sheezy", and "staying crunk", while the real issues of poverty and social injustice are ignored.
Overall, "Get By" is a powerful song about the resilience of the human spirit and the ability to persevere in the face of great adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
Introduction
My Lord
Paying respect
Yeah
Affirmation
We sell, crack to our own out the back of our homes
We sell drugs to our own community in secret
We smell the musk at the dusk in the crack of the dawn
We are familiar with the smell of drugs no matter the time of day
We go through 'Epidodes II' like 'Attack Of The Clones'
We watch movies repetitively to escape our reality
Work 'til we break our back and you hear the crack of the bone
We work hard to survive, sometimes resulting in injury
To get by just to get by
We work hard just to survive
Just to get by, just to get by
Reiteration of our constant struggle
We commute to computers
We use technology to maintain our livelihood
Spirits stay mute while you eagles spread rumors
We stay quiet while others spread lies about our community
We survivalists, turned to consumers
We are survivors who have become reliant on consumerism just to survive
Ask him why some people got to live in a trailer, cuss like a sailor
Questioning why some live in poverty and resort to foul language
I paint a picture with the pen like Norman Mailer
I write vividly to capture the struggles of our community
Mi abuela raised three daughters all by herself, with no help
My grandmother raised her children alone without assistance
I think about her struggle and I find the strength in myself
My grandmother's strength inspires me to persevere
These words, melt in my mouth
My words hold great meaning
They hot, like the jail cell in the south
My words carry the heat of the injustices that occur in southern prisons
Before my nigga Core bailed me out
My friend Core helped me out of a difficult situation
To get by, just to get by
We go through hardships just to survive
We do or die like Bed-Stuy through the red sky
We keep pushing through struggles like Bed-Stuy, despite the odds being against us
With the window of the red eye
Looking through the windowpane of the airplane
Let the lead fly, on some G. Rap shit, 'livin' to let die'
Taking risks like rapper G. Rap, willing to live life to the fullest
This morning, I woke up
Starting a new day
Feeling brand new, I jumped up
Feeling refreshed and energized
Feeling my highs (yeah) and my lows (yeah)
Experiencing the ups and downs of life
In my soul (yeah) and my goals
Reflecting on my inner self and future aspirations
Just to stop smokin', and stop drinkin'
Striving to overcome addiction
And I've been thinkin, I've got my reasons
Reflecting on reasons for making changes
Just to get (by), just to get (by)
Making changes for survival
Just to get (by), just to get (by)
Reiteration of the need to survive
Just to get (by-by-by-by-by-by)
Enduring constant struggles to survive
We keep it gangster say 'fo shizzle', 'fo sheezy' and 'stayin' crunk'
We speak with slang associated with gangsters and staying intoxicated
Its easy to pull a breezy, smoke trees, and we stay drunk
It's easy for us to fall into destructive habits
Yo, I activism attackin' the system, the blacks and latin's in prison
I'm an activist speaking out against the injustices in the system towards the black and Latin community
Numbers of prison they victim black in the vision
Prison disproportionately affects the black community
Shit and all they got is rappin' to listen to
The black community has limited resources, often relying on rap music as a source of comfort
I let them know we missin' you, the love is unconditional
Encouraging the community to uplift each other with love and support
Even when the condition is critical, when the livin' is miserable
Despite living in harsh conditions, we must persist with hope and love
Your position is pivotal, I ain't bullshittin' you
Your existence and voice are important; I'm not lying
Now, why would I lie? Just to get by?
There's no need for lies when we're already struggling to get by
We get fly
We take pride in our appearance despite our circumstances
The TV got us reachin' for stars
We aspire to the luxurious lifestyles depicted on TV
Not the ones between Venus and Mars, the ones that be readin' for parts
We're not reaching for astronomical stars, but rather Hollywood stardom
Some people get breast enhancements and penis enlargers
People invest in their appearance to try to achieve success and happiness
Saturday sinners, Sunday morning at the feet of the father
People engage in sin but seek redemption from religion
They need somethin to rely on, we get high on all types of drug
People search for something to rely on, but we turn to drugs to cope
When, all you really need is love
Love and support from others can be a powerful force
Our parents sing like John Lennon, 'imagine all the people watch'
Our parents sing lyrics from John Lennon's song, 'Imagine,' dream of a better world
We rock like Paul McCartney from now until the last Beatle drop
We keep pushing through struggles like the Beatles continued to make music despite hardships
Some people cry, and some people try
Some individuals are overcome with emotion, while others persist with determination
For a piece of the pie
People struggle to gain wealth and success
You love to eat and get high
People chase pleasure through food and drugs
We deceive when we lie, and we keepin' it fly
We use lies and deception to maintain our image and reputation
When, the people decide, to keep a disguise
When people hide their true selves
Can't see they eyes, see the evil inside
Evil and negativity can be hidden inside of people
But there's people you find
There are individuals who are authentic and true
Strong or feeble in mind, I stay readin' the signs
We must remain observant and aware of our surroundings to survive
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Nina Simone, Talib Kweli, Kanye West
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tupacsnosering992
Naah the beat is Hip hop
Talib is on some poetry shit
RAP stands for rhythm & Poetry !!!
The song starts off Wit him rapping
then on the 2nd verse he falls off flow and starts doing more spoken word poetry lol
It’s kool but ehhh talib be losing me wit all that poetry wale shit.
@EMerdelac
When I'm low and out of focus I always come back to this. It's become a mantra -
This morning, I woke up
Feeling brand new, 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
Song is a gift from God.
@dam419
One of the coldest Kanye beats bruh...EVER
@pragmatic1ultramagnetic202
This is his best beat by far.
@SmokeScreensEmerge
That Kanye died a long time ago. Now he's just a confused mess
@EricG-bv2ui
+Pragmatic1 Ultramagnetic...... that's a big debate. He has some big beats with Common, Jay Z & Common just to name a few.
@pragmatic1ultramagnetic202
Eric G To me it's his best. I searched for it for ages.
@EricG-bv2ui
***** lucky you that you were able to pick one. I have a few songs I can't decide in my head which one is better.
@menik6575
"Even when the condition is critical, when the living is miserable, your position is pivotal." That line hit my heart bad.
@weedaq
yep
@palestar55
@@weedaq ikr
@Starboy-le3pq
True lyrical shit brutha man