Erykah Badu

Released: November 18, 1997

Songwriter: Erykah Badu ?uestlove James Poyser The Roots Richard Nichols

Producer: Erykah Badu Norman “Keys” Hurt

[Chorus]
Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
Work ain't honest but it pays the bills
What we gonna do when they come for you?
Gave me the life that I came to live

[Verse 1]
Do I really, want my baby?
Brother, tell me, what to do
I said I know you got to get your hustle on
So I pray
I understand the game, sometimes
And I love you strong, but...

[Chorus]
What you gonna do when they come for you
Work ain't honest but it pays the bills (Yes, it does)
What we gonna do when they come for you
God, I can't stand life without you

[Verse 2]
Now, me and baby got this situation
See, brother got this complex occupation
And it ain't that he don't have education
'Cause I was right there at his graduation
Now, I ain't sayin' that this life don't work
But it's me and baby that he hurts
Oh, because I tell him right he thinks I'm wrong
But I love him strong

[Pre-Chorus]
He gave me the life that I came to live
Gave me the song that I came to give
Pressure's on me but the seed has grown
I can't make it on my own
You see, the summer came around and the flowers bloomed
He became the sun, I became the moon
Precious gifts that we both receive
But could this be make believe?

[Chorus]
Whatcha gonna do when they come for you
Work ain't honest but it pays the bills
(Said the work ain't honest but it pays the bills)
What we gonna do when they come for you
Gave me the life that I came to live (Yes, it did)

[Bridge]
Don't you worry, baby, I know there's confusion
But God's gonna see us through, yeah
Peace out to revolution, yes
But we paid, though, come on
Don't you worry, keep your balance
(Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do?)
Work ain't honest but it pays the bills (Yes, it does)
Don't you worry, keep your balance
(Just try not to worry, baby)
Gave me the life that I came to live (Ooh, yes, it did)
Don't you worry, keep your balance
Work ain't honest but it pays the bills
(See, the work ain't honest but it pays the bills)
Don't you worry, keep your balance (Ooh)

[Outro]
He gave me the life that I came to live
Gave me the song that I came to give
Pressure's on me but the seed has grown
I can't make it on my own
You see, the summer came around and the flowers bloomed
He became the sun, I became the moon
Precious gifts that we both receive
But could this be make believe?

See, I ain't tryna run your life, baby
But I need you to do what's right, yeah, 'cause I'm your wife
Peace out to revolution, yes
I know there's confusion
Ooh, we gotta do this thing together
Through whatever, whatever, ever, ever
'Cause I can't stand it
Then they tell me you gotta stand by your brothers
You gotta love one another
Through whatever, whatever, whatever, hey
Come on, y'all, he gave me the life that I came to live...

Gave me the life that I came to live
Gave me the song that I came to give
Pressure's on me but the seed has grown
I can't make it on my own
You see, the summer came around and the flowers bloomed
He became the sun, I became the moon
Precious gifts that we both receive
But could this be make believe?

Peace out to revolution, yes
You gotta do what you gotta do now
Be strong

Erica Abi Wright, better know as the Erykah Badu is a multi-genre artist with influences spanning from Hip-Hop, R&B, Soul, Funk and Experimental. She is credited as one of the pioneers of Neo-Soul movement of the mid 90’s and would become one of the most prolific artist of the genre, earning her the title “First Lady Of Neo-Soul.”

Erykah’s career began in 1994, when she opened a show for D'angelo, and attracted the attention of Kedar Entertainment. Under the label, Erykah would release her debut alum Baduizm, which earned two Grammy awards. Erykah would use the monumentum of the debut release to create one of the strongest discographies of any R&B artist.

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