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Words from the artist’s archive
BELOW THE LINE lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
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Intro
Ayo, fifteen racks a year, that's what they call the line We been below that since birth, n, we been doin' time Thirty-seven million deep, they act like we don't exist But we out here every day, surviving on the list
Verse 1
Momma did doubles at the nursin' home, still came up short Lights got cut off every summer, couldn't run the AC fort Seven twenty-five the same since Obama took office Rent went up three times since then, tell me how that's progress Ramen noodles for the week, ketchup sandwiches when it's dry EBT hit on the first, gone by the fifth, no lie Section 8 waitlist? Bro, that's like eight years deep By the time they call your number, you done lost the lease
Pre-chorus
They say get up, get out, go get it on your own Hard to chase a bag when you ain't even got a phone
Chorus
Below the line, yeah, we been livin' like that Thirty-seven million strong, still we comin' back From the bricks to the sticks, every hood the same We ain't statistics, n, remember the name
Verse 2
Daycare cost more than what my auntie make in a year So grandma watch the kids while we out chasin' this here My cousin got a degree, still workin' at the Wendy's Forty-four million in debt, man, the system offends me No insurance, so we pray we don't get sick Twenty-seven million uninsured, man, that's some bull Corner store the only option when they killed the grocery Food desert got us eatin' chips, that's how it's 'posed to be?
Bridge
LBJ said he'd end it back in sixty-four Sixty years of promises, we still knockin' on the door Different faces in the office, same story in the streets Cycle keep on spinnin', same struggle on repeat
Pre-chorus
They say get up, get out, go get it on your own Hard to chase a dream when you just tryna get home
Chorus
Below the line, yeah, we been livin' like that Thirty-seven million strong, still we comin' back From the bricks to the sticks, every hood the same We ain't statistics, n, remember the name
Verse 3
But hold up, peep the vision, COVID showed us what could be Them stimulus checks hit, child poverty dropped, you see? Cut it in half with one move, they could do it if they tried But they took it back so fast, like they wanted us to die Germany and them got free college, we got loans Tennessee did it local, showed you how it's done at home From the Ninth Ward to the trailer park, we all connected Poor is poor, don't matter what color, we affected
Bridge
Every kid deserve a plate that ain't from the dollar menu Every mama pullin' doubles deserve to rest, continue Every teacher, nurse, and janitor who hold it down Deserve way more than minimum, that's the real crown
Chorus
Below the line, yeah, we been livin' like that Thirty-seven million strong, still we comin' back From the bricks to the sticks, every hood the same We ain't statistics, n, remember the name
Outro
Fifteen thousand on paper, but we worth way more They can't put a price on what we been through, what we saw From Detroit to Jackson, East St. Louis to the Bay We the ones who built this country, now we takin' what they owe
Inside the recording
Ayo, fifteen racks a year, that's what they call the line We been below that since birth, n****, we been doin' time
They say get up, get out, go get it on your own Hard to chase a bag when you ain't even got a phone
Fifteen thousand on paper, but we worth way more They can't put a price on what we been through, what we saw
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.