Get By
Talib Kweli feat. Jay-Z & Busta Rhymes Lyrics

We sell, crack to our own out the back of our homes
We, as a community, deal drugs to our own people, right behind our own homes.

We smell the musk at the dusk in the crack of the dawn
We can smell the stench of drug addiction and poverty that lingers in our neighborhood at all hours of the day.

We go through "Epidodes II," like "Attack of the Clones"
We're caught up in real-life struggles, yet we find ourselves escaping and watching movies like "Episodes II" or "Attack of the Clones" to get away from our own problems.

Work 'til we break our back and you hear the crack of the bone
We work ourselves to the point of exhaustion, to the point where we can hear our bones cracking from the constant strain.

To get by...just to get by
We endure all of these struggles and hardships just to make it through life.

We commute to computers
We spend our days working in front of computers, disconnected from the world outside.

Spirits stay mute while you eagles spread rumors
We keep quiet and try to avoid rumors and negativity, while others try to bring us down and tear us apart.

We survivalists, turned to consumers
We must do whatever we can to survive, which often means turning to consumerism and materialism as a means of coping.

Ask Him why some people got to live in a trailer, cuss like a sailor
We question why some people are forced to live in poverty and struggle so much, to the point where they become vulgar and angry.

I paint a picture with the pen like Norman Mailer
I express my thoughts and emotions through writing, in the same way that Norman Mailer did as a renowned author and journalist.

Me and Willa raised three daughters all by herself, with no help
We struggle to raise our children alone, without any help or support from others.

I think about a struggle and I find the strength in myself
I find the strength to overcome struggles and hardships by relying on my own resilience and determination.

These words, melt in my mouth
These words are powerful and meaningful, they feel smooth and easy to speak for me.

They hot, like the jail cell in the South
These words are powerful and impactful, they’re as intense as a scorching hot jail cell in the southern United States.

Before my nigga Core bailed me out
Before my friend Core helped me out of a difficult situation.

We do or die like Bed-Stuy through the red sky, with the window of the red eye
We live every day like it’s a fight for survival, just like those who live in Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy neighborhood. We view the world through bloodshot eyes, exhausted yet determined.

Let the lead fly, some G. Rap shit, "Livin' to Let Die"
We’re living in a violent and harsh reality, similar to the themes of G. Rap's music. We must do what we can to survive, even if that means resorting to violence.

This morning, I woke up, Feeling brand new and I jumped up
Today, I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day's challenges with new energy.

Feeling my highs, and my lows, In my soul, and my goals
I'm aware of both the positive and negative aspects of my life, both in my emotions and my long-term aspirations.

Just to stop smokin', and stop drinkin', And I've been thinkin' - I've got my reasons
I'm trying to quit smoking and drinking, and I'm doing it for my own personal reasons.

We keeping it gangster say "fo shizzle", "fo sheezy" and "stay incrunk"
We keep up the façade of being tough or "gangster," by using phrases like "fo shizzle" and "stay incrunk" to appear cool and confident.

Its easy to pull a breezy, smoke trees, and we stay drunk
It's easy to pick up a woman, smoke weed, and drink alcohol as a way to relieve stress and seem cool.

Yo, I activism - attackin' the system, the blacks and latins in prison
I believe in activism and fighting against the systems that oppress Black and Latinx people, especially those who have been incarcerated.

Numbers of prison they victim black in the vision
The high number of incarcerated people creates a negative image of Black people as criminals in society's eyes.

Shit and all they got is rappin' to listen to
Incarcerated individuals often have nothing but music to turn to while they serve their time.

I let them know we missin' you, the love is unconditional
I express my love and support to those who have been incarcerated, letting them know that they are missed and valued.

Even when the condition is critical, when the livin is miserable
Even in the most dire and miserable situations, I stand by those who are struggling.

Your position is pivotal, I ain't bullshittin' you
Your situation and position is important and I'm not lying to you when I say that.

Now, why would I lie? Just to get by?
I have no reason to lie if it's just to get through life with ease.

Just to get by, we get fly
We work hard just to make ends meet, and when we can, we treat ourselves to a little luxury or splurge.

The TV got us reachin' for stars
The media makes us aspire for unrealistic goals or standards.

Not the ones between Venus and Mars, the ones that be readin' for parts
The media makes us long for fame and fortune rather than striving for intellectual pursuits or becoming well-read individuals.

Some people get breast enhancements and penis enlargers
Some people will go to great lengths, even surgically, to alter their appearance and improve their self-esteem.

Saturday sinners Sunday morning at the feet of the Father
Some people may indulge in sinful activities on Saturday but then go to church on Sunday to atone for their actions and commune with God.

They need somethin' to rely on, we get high on all types of drug
Some people are searching for something to give them a sense of security or relief, and unfortunately we turn to drugs to escape or numb our pain.

When, all you really need is love
At the end of the day, the most important thing that we all need is love and human connection.

Our parents sing like John Lennon, "Imagine all the people watch"
Our parents remind us of the idealism of artists such as John Lennon, who believed in peace and love for all people.

We rock like Paul McCartney from now until the last Beatles drop
We relate to the enduring quality of music from artists like Paul McCartney and the Beatles, and we aspire to achieve that level of greatness in our own lives.

Some people cry, and some people try, Just to get by, for a piece of the pie
Some individuals struggle more than others, but everyone is doing what they can to survive and get their fair share in life.

We deceive when we lie, and we keepin' it fly
We often deceive and tell lies to protect ourselves or maintain appearances as we continue to chase after status symbols and luxury items.

When, the people decide, to keep a disguise
When individuals decide to hide their true selves from others.

Can't see they eyes, see the evil inside
We can't see someone's true motives or intentions just by looking at them, and unfortunately, some people have dark and evil intentions.

But there's people you find, Strong or feeble in mind, I stay readin' the signs
You can find people who are either mentally strong or weak. I observe and read the signs to be able to handle them accordingly.