[Intro:]
I don't want a lot,I want just enough
So why has it got to be so damn TOUGH
Livin' on the uptown side of jive
Hustlin' a buck to stay alive
Lookin' for a ten and they give your five
Well it's tough
You talk to the boss,the boss is gruff
You ask for a raise and they call your bluff
You may get some,but it's never enough
Because it's tough
[STRONG:] Like a magnum force
[ROUGH:] Like a new divorce
[MEAN:] Like a three-time loser
[BAD:] Like an L.A. cruiser
[DOWN:] Like a limousine
[BLIND:] Like a submarine
[HARD:] Like cold concrete
[TOUGH:] That's the rhythm of the beat
You hit the street and you look for work
You don't want to be some welfare jerk
But I wonder how you get to be Captain Kirk
It's tough
Now Kirk has a ship called the Enterprise
He cuts the aliens down to size
But I wonder what he'd do with the uptown guys
They're tough
[TOUGH:]
Try to get some cash
When you're looking for a raise and they give you trash
[ROUGH:]
When you got it like that
And your woman's running 'round with a baseball bat
[HARD:]
Try to play it cool when the girl's all know you're an out of work fool
[TOUGH:]
How it seems to be,wish I had somebody lookin' out for me
Try to find a lover if you dare
Even if you do she just won't care
Well no one ever said that that life is fair
Because it's tough
Saw a fine young lady the other day
I started my rap,I had a lot to say
But she said she was goin' with a C.P.A.
Now it's tough
[STRONG:] Like a superhero
[ROUGH:] Like a bank book zero
[MEAN:] Like the Oakland Raiders
[BAD:] Like the Caped Crusaders
[DOWN:] Like a homerun ball
[BLIND:] Like an umpire's call
[HARD:] Like a cruel deceit
[TOUGH:] That's the rhythm of the beat
You worked all year to buy a brand new car
A Coupe de Ville or a Jaguar
But you didn't make enough for a good cigar
Because it's tough
So you went to the bank to try to get a loan
But the guy behind the desk had a heart os stone
He said "You don't need a car,use the telephone!"
It's tough
[TOUGH:]
It's a way of life,lost your job
Your money,but not your wife
[ROUGH:]
Gettin' in the black,Uncle Sam's in your pocket
And your woman's on your back
[HARD:]
That's the deal,had to get a loan just to buy a meal
[TOUGH:]
That's how it goes,when it's gettin' better,nobody knows
[STRONG:] Like Chocolate Thunder
[ROUGH:] Like Stevie Wonder
[MEAN:] Like Brucie The Shark
[BAD:] Like the Raider's Ark
[DOWN:] Like Sugar's Glove
[BLIND:] Like a man in love
[HARD:] Like a big defeat
TOUGH:That's the rhythm of the beat
[TOUGH:] That's the word,unemployment is all I heard
[ROUGH:] When you start your day,watch the finance man tow your car away
[HARD:] To hold a job when you've been replaced by a little blue knob
[TOUGH:] Like a dollar steak,ain't someone ever gonna give me a break
Tough....
Tough Lyrics performed by Kurtis Blow are property and copyright of the authors, artists and labels. You should note that Tough Lyrics performed by Kurtis Blow is only provided for educational purposes only and if you like the song you should buy the CD