Kurtis Blow — Tough

[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 girls 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 of 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.....