Tough

I don't want a lot, I want just enough

So why has it got to be so damn tough

Living on the uptown side of jive

Hustling a buck to stay alive

Looking for a ten and they give you 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

Cause it's tough

Strong, like a magnet 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 girls all know you're an out-of-work fool

Tough, how it seems to be

Wish I had somebody looking 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 life is fair

Cause 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 going with a C.P.A

Now it's tough

Strong, like a superhero

Rough, like a bankbook zero

Mean, like the Oakland Raiders

Bad, like the Caped Crusaders

Down, like a home run ball

Blind, like an umpire's call

Hard, like a cruel deceit

Tough, that's the rhythm of the beat