• Am
  • Bm
  • C
  • Dm
  • G
Continues after the ad
Key:
|Am Bm | C Dm|
|Am G | Am G | [Verse 1]
Am G We sell, crack to our own out the back of our homes
Am G We smell the musk of the dusk in the crack of the dawn
Am G We go through episodes too, like Attack of the Clones
Am G Work 'til we break our back, and you hear the crack of the bone
Am Bm C Dm Just to get by, just to get by, just to get by, just to get by [Verse 2]
Am G We commute to computers, spirits stay mute while you egos spread rumors
Am G We're survivalists turned to consumers
Am Bm C Dm Just to get by, just to get by, just to get by, just to get by [Verse 3]
Am G Ask Him why some people got to live in a trailer, cuss like a sailor
Am G I paint a picture with the pen like Norman Mailer
Am G Mi abuela raised three daughters all by herself, with no help
Am G I think about her struggle and I find the strength in myself
Am G Am These words, melt in my mouth, they hot like a jail cell in the South
G Before my nigga Cor' bailed me out
Am Bm C Dm To get by, just to get by, just to get by, just to get by [Verse 4]
Am G If you was born in New York City and you know you're fly
Am G then wave your hands in the air if you know, nigga [Hook]
Am G This morning, I woke up
Am G Feelin' brand new, I jumped up
Am G Feelin' my highs (yeah) and my lows (yeah)
Am G In my soul (yeah) and my goals
Am G Just to stop smokin', and stop drinkin'
Continues after the ad
Am G I've been thinkin' I've got my reasons
Am Bm C Dm Just to get (by), just to get (by), just to get (by), just to get (by) [Refrain]
Am G by by by, by by by-by
Am G by by by-by, by by by-by
Am Bm C Dm (by), just to get (by), just to get (by), just to get (by)
Am G by-by-by, by by by-by
Am G by by by-by, by by by-by
Am Bm C Dm (by), just to get (by), just to get (by), just to get (by) [Verse 5]
Am G We keepin' it gangster, say "fo' shizzle", "fo' sheezy", and stayin' crunk
Am G It's easy to pull a breezy, smoke trees, and we stayin' drunk
Am G Am Yo, our activism, attackin' the system, the Blacks and Latins in prison
G Numbers have risen, they're victims lackin' the vision
Am G Shit, and all they got is rappin' to listen to
Am G I let them know we missin' you, the love is unconditional
Am G Even when the condition is critical, when the livin' is miserable
Am G Your position is pivotal, I ain't bullshittin' you
Am Bm C Dm Now, why would I lie? Just to get by? Just to get by, get fly, [Verse 6]
Am G the TV got us reachin' for stars
Am G Not the ones between Venus and Mars, the ones that be readin' for parts
Am G Some people get breast enhancements and penis enlargers
Am G Saturday sinners, Sunday morning at the feet of the Father
Am G They need somethin' to rely on, we get high on
Am G All types of drug, when all you really need is love
Am Bm C Dm To get by, just to get by, just to get by, just to get by
Am G Our parents sing like John Lennon: imagine all the people watch
Am G We rock like Paul McCartney from now until the last Beatle drop. (What?) (yah yo-yo yo, yo) [Hook]
Am G This morning, I woke up
Am G Feelin' brand new, I jumped up
Am G Feelin' my highs, and my lows
Am G In my soul, and my goal's
Am G Just to stop smokin' and stop drinkin'
Am G I've been thinkin' I got my reasons
Am Bm C Dm Just to get (by), just to get (by), just to get (by), just to get (by) (yah yo-yo yo, yo) [Verse 3]
Am G Some people cry, and some people try
Am G Just to get by, for a piece of the pie
Am G You love to eat and get high
Am G We deceive when we lie, and we keepin' it fly (yah yo-yo yo, yo)
Am Bm C Dm When the people decide to keep a disguise, can't see they eyes,
Am G see the evil inside, but there's people you find
Am G Strong or feeble in mind, I stay readin' the signs
Am G Some people cry, and some people try
Am G Just to get by, for a piece of the pie
Am G You love to eat and get high
Am G We deceive when we lie, and we keepin' it fly
Am (yah yo-yo yo, yo) [Other] (accappella) N.C. 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 yah yo-yo yo, yo (hey)
Song details

Composition: Kanye West, Nina Simone, and Talib Kweli

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