Mos Def: Get by

[Talib]Yeah.. my Lord.. yeah[Verse 1: Talib]We sell, crack to our own out the back of our homesWe smell the musk at the dusk in the crack of the dawnWe go through "Epidodes II," like "Attack of the Clones"Work 'til we break our back and you hear the crack of the boneTo get by.. just to get byJust to get by, just to get byWe commute to computersSpirits stay mute while you eagles spread rumorsWe survivalists, turned to consumersTo get by.. just to get byJust to get by, just to get byAsk Him why some people got to live in a trailer, cuss like a sailorI paint a picture with the pen like Norman MailerMe and Willa raised three daughters all by herself, with no helpI think about a struggle and I find the strength in myselfThese words, melt in my mouthThey hot, like the jail cell in the SouthBefore my nigga Core bailed me outTo get by.. just to get byJust to get by, just to get byWe do or die like Bed-Stuy through the red skywith the window of the red eyeLet the lead fly, some G. Rap shit, "Livin' to Let Die"[Chorus: Background singers]This morning, I woke upFeeling brand new and I jumped upFeeling my highs, and my lowsIn my soul, and my goalsJust to stop smokin, and stop drinkinAnd I've been thinkin - I've got my reasonsJust to get (by), just to get (by)Just to get (by), just to get (by)[Talib and background singers](ba ba ba, ba da bada, ba da bada, ba da bada, ba da badahhJust to get (by), just to get (by)Just to get (by by by by by by)(ba ba ba, ba da bada, ba da bada, ba da bada, ba da badahhJust to get (by), just to get (by)Just to get (by by by by by by)[Verse 2: Talib]We keeping it gangster say "fo shizzle", "fo sheezy" and "stayin crunk"Its easy to pull a breezy, smoke trees, and we stay drunkYo, I activism - attackin the system, the blacks and latins in prisonNumbers of prison they victim black in the visionShit and all they got is rappin to listen toI let them know we missin you, the love is unconditionalEven when the condition is critical, when the livin is miserableYour position is pivotal, I ain't bullshittin youNow, why would I lie? Just to get by?Just to get by, we get flyThe TV got us reachin for starsNot the ones between Venus and Mars, the ones that be readin for partsSome people get breast enhancements and penis enlargersSaturday sinners Sunday morning at the feet of the FatherThey need somethin to rely on, we get high on all types of drugWhen, all you really need is loveTo get by.. just to get byJust to get by, just to get byOur parents sing like John Lennon, "Imagine all the people watch"We rock like Paul McCartney from now until the last Beatle drop[Chorus: Background singers]This morning, I woke upFeeling brand new and I jumped upFeeling my high's, and my low'sIn my soul, and my goalsJust to stop smoking, and stop drinkingAnd I've been thinking - I've got my reasonsJust to get (by), just to get (by)Just to get (by), just to get (by)[Talib: repeat 2X - with background singers]Yoyoyo, yoSome people cry, and some people tryJust to get by, for a piece of the pieYou love to eat and get highWe decieve when we lie, and we keepin it flyYoyoyo, yoWhen, the people decide, to keep a disguiseCan't see they eyes, see the evil insideBut there's people you findStrong or feeble in mind, I stay readin the signs