Get By

About Get By

"Get By" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Talib Kweli. It was released on March 11, 2003 as the third single from his debut studio album Quality (2003). The song, produced by Kanye West, samples "Sinnerman" as performed by Nina Simone and features background vocals from Abby Dobson, Chinua Hawk, Kendra Ross, Vernetta Bobien and William "Na2" Taylor. The song peaked at number 77 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming Kweli's most successful solo hit.  more »

Year:

2002

3:47

382 Views

Playlists:

#3

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Yeah...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" 
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 asailor 
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) 

We keeping it gangster say "fo shizzle", "fo sheezy" and "stayincrunk" 
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 Beatles drop

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 

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

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Talib Kweli

Talib Kweli Greene (October 3, 1975) is an American rapper who performs under the name Talib Kweli. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" (طالب); his middle name in Swahili means "true". Kweli gained prominent recognition through Black Star, a collaboration with fellow MC Mos Def. more »

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