Get By by Talib Kweli Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling The Struggle for Survival
Lyrics
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
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
Transcending mere entertainment, Talib Kweli’s ‘Get By’ is a resonant testimony to the human spirit’s undying hustle, ambition, and resilience in the face of hardship. With each bar tailored to strike a chord, Kweli doesn’t merely create music, he crafts experience, dispensing wisdom against gritty backdrops of urban life.
Serving as both a survey of the urban landscape and an introspection of perseverance, ‘Get By’ invites listeners into a world where every day is a complex narrative of survival. In decoding the song’s profound lyrics, we uncover the layers of societal commentary, personal resolve, and the collective consciousness of a community striving to thrive amidst adversity.
The Anatomy of a Struggle Anthem
Kweli’s eloquence is on full display as he weaves tales of struggle with relatable daily routines. ‘Get By’ is anthemic, not just for chronicling the lives of those hustling every day but for elevating the narrative to a universal resonance. The song captures the essence of what it is to strive and struggle, painting vivid pictures of life’s grit that stick to the ribs of our consciousness.
This isn’t just music; it’s scripture for the streets. Talib Kweli offers a bootloader for the soul, a blueprint for pushing through when the weight of the world rests upon weary shoulders. From the crack of dawn to the ‘crack of the bone,’ the pursuit of perseverance is relentless, and ‘Get By’ is its soundtrack.
Societal Reflections in Verse
Dissecting the social commentary in ‘Get By,’ Kweli doesn’t shy away from confronting painful truths. From drug dealing as a means of survival to escaping through substance abuse and escapism, he points to a system that leaves few options. The lyrics mirror societal failings and individual crises within the context of systemic oppression and personal anguish.
The song takes you from the street corners to the soul’s innermost corners, revealing the cycle of despair and determination. Kweli carefully charts the map of a society caught between survival and self-destruction, making ‘Get By’ a powerful indictment of the circumstances that mold the urban experience.
Triumph in Personal Redemption
In the throes of ‘Get By,’ Kweli balances the societal with the profoundly personal. Lyrics like ‘This morning, I woke up, feeling brand new, I jumped up,’ speak of an epiphany, a personal revival that steers clear from smoking and drinking. The personal redemption arc serves as a reminder that within the collective struggle, individual awakenings carve the path to collective consciousness.
Our protagonist isn’t just fighting the good fight; he’s narrating the transformation that occurs when one decides to leap into the better version of oneself. Herein lies an ode to the power of choice, to opting for a sober vision of life, misted neither by despair nor substances.
Decrypting the Song’s Hidden Layers
Peeling back the layers of ‘Get By,’ one finds Kweli’s lotus blooming from the mud of complexities human endeavor often entails. The song itself serves as a hidden homage to resilience, community, and cultural identity, with references from ‘Epidodes II like Attack Of The Clones,’ to John Lennon and The Beatles.
Embracing cultural icons and the collective memory they’ve etched into our society, Kweli doesn’t simply drop names as lyrical accessories. Each reference is a thread woven into the tapestry of empowerment, inviting audiences to see themselves as part of a larger story, an uncompromising trek through the undulating terrain of life.
Lines that Echo Beyond the Beats
‘We sell, crack to our own out the back of our homes’ doesn’t just resonate, it lingers. It’s as a chilling snapshot of the cyclical nature of internal community destruction. The song dances with memorable lines that serve as a critical introspection into the socio-economic systems and the personal choices that underpin them.
‘Ask him why some people got to live in a trailer, cuss like a sailor.’ Kweli probes the stitched fabric of society, expounding through startling lyricism that sticks to the mind long after the song fades out. Each line is a living organism within the ecosystem of the narrative, pulsing with the vitality of the voice that refuses to be silenced.
