Michael Franti & Spearhead Tha Payroll (Stay Strong) lyrics

Gramma, this one's for you
(Stay strong)

He's strong
Mama, mama, mama
Mama, I couldn't say no
So strong

Got sick and tired
Of seein' brothers being treated ill
He's strong

They say to chill
They say my homey's not available
Stay strong
I hear, mama, they got him working on tha payroll

She's strong
Mama, mama, mama
Mama, I couldn't say no
So strong

Got sick and tired
Of seein' sistas being created ill
She's strong

They say to chill
They say my homegirl's not available
Stay strong
I hear, mama, they got her workin' on tha payroll

At twenty one, the brother Smooth, he got a record deal
Been working hard, been writin' songs about the things he feels
He says it's real 'cause I got skills but I got bills
My deck is stacked if I could only get my shit on wax

When it was ripe he took his tape up to the rec execs
They smoked cigars and rolled their eye's at him behind their specs
Your shit is phat but I don't hear it in the format Jack
What's all this black crap? Check page twenty one of your contract

He's strong
Mama, mama, mama
Mama, I couldn't say no
So strong

Got sick and tired
Of seein' brothers being treated ill
He's strong

They say to chill
They say my homey's not available
Stay strong
I hear, mama, they got him working on tha payroll

She's strong
Mama, mama, mama
Mama, I couldn't say no
So strong

Got sick and tired
Of seein' sistas being created ill
She's strong

They say to chill
They say my homegirl's not available
Stay strong
I hear, mama, they got her workin' on tha payroll

A friend of mine Roberta, she got a job at the post office
She was college edjamacated but got fired up at the law office
I'm all alone two kids at home, I need a job, just any job
So I can get back on my feet like Tina Turner

The boss came up to her said, "Why don't you come home with me?"
I'd like to see you take off your clothes for me
She said, "No way, man"
He said, "You don't understand"
"You lose your life, you lose your job if you don't do this shift"


He's strong
Mama, mama, mama
Mama, I couldn't say no
So strong

Got sick and tired
Of seein' brothers being treated ill
He's strong

They say to chill
They say my homey's not available
Stay strong
I hear, mama, they got him working on tha payroll

She's strong
Mama, mama, mama
Mama, I couldn't say no
So strong

Got sick and tired
Of seein' sistas being created ill
She's strong

They say to chill
They say my homegirl's not available
Stay strong
I hear, mama, they got her workin' on tha payroll

I met a black man who became a police officer
Officer, officer, officer, officer, officer, overseer
He tried to tell me it was the only job available
Either rob or join the mob 'cause I'm not salable

One night he went out on an undercover stinging
Bought some smack tried to break the heroin ring, ring
Two cops, white cops saw juggling goin' down
They spilled his brain like homey the fuckin' clown
He's gone

Mama, mama, mama, mama, I couldn't say no
Got sick and tired of seein' people bein' treated ill
Picked up my nines, walked up from behind
Tapped two of them on the neck
So I could meet their eyes direct

Pom, pom
I didn't do it for tha payroll

He's strong
Mama, mama, mama
Mama, I couldn't say no
So strong

Got sick and tired
Of seein' brothers being treated ill
He's strong

They say to chill
They say my homey's not available
Stay strong
I hear, mama, they got him working on tha payroll

She's strong
Mama, mama, mama
Mama, I couldn't say no
So strong

Got sick and tired
Of seein' sistas being created ill
She's strong

They say to chill
They say my homegirl's not available
Stay strong
I hear, mama, they got her workin' on tha payroll