Gramma this one's for you (stay strong)
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[Chorus]
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(He's strong!)
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Mama Mama Mama Mama I couldn't say "No"
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(So strong!)
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Got sick and tired of seein' brothers being treated ill
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(He's strong!)
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They say to chill, they say my homey's not available
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(Stay strong!)
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I hear Mama they got him working on tha Payroll
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(She's strong!)
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Mama Mama Mama Mama I couldn't say "No"
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(So strong!)
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Got sick and tired of seein' sistas being treated ill
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(She's strong!)
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They say to chill, they say my homegirl's not available
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(Stay strong!)
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I hear Mama they got her working on tha Payroll
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At 21 the brother "Smooth" he got a record deal
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been working hard been writin' songs about the things he feels
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he says it's real, 'cause I got bills, but I got skills
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my deck is stacked, if I could only get my shit on wax
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when it was ripe he took his tape up to the rec execs
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they smoked cigars and rolled their eye's at him behind their specs
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your shit is phat but I don't hear it in the format Jack
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what's all this black crap check page twenty one of your contract
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[Chorus]
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A friend of mine Roberta she got a job at the post office
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she was college edjamacated but got fired up at the law office
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I'm all alone two kids at home, I need a job just any job
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so I can get back on my feet like Tina "T"(urner)
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the boss came up to her said, "why don't you come home with me"
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I'd like to see you take off your clothes for me
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she said "No way man!"
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he said "You don't understand"
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"You lose your life, you lose your job if you don't do this shift!"
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[Chorus]
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I met a black man who became a police officer
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officer, officer, officer, officer, officer, overseer
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he tried to tell me it was the only job available
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either rob or join the mob 'cause I'm not salable
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one night he went out on an undercover sting-ing
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bought some smack tried to break the heroin ring-ring
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Two cops white cops saw juggling goin' down
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they spilled his brain like homey the fuckin' clown
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(He's gone!)
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Mama Mama Mama Mama I couldn't say no
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got sick and tired of seein' people bein' treated ill
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picked up my nines, walked up from behind
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tapped two of them on the neck so I could meet their eyes direct
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Pom! Pom!
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I didn't do it for tha payroll
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[Chorus]
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-----------------
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Tha Payroll (Stay Strong)
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| Michael Franti & Spearhead |
