(Chorus)
 (He's strong!)
 Mama Mama Mama Mama I couldn't say "No"
 (So strong!)
 Got sick and tired of seein' brothers being treated ill
 (He's strong!)
 They say to chill  they say my homey's not available
 (Stay strong!)
 I hear Mama they got him working on tha Payroll
 (She's strong!)
 Mama Mama Mama Mama I couldn't say "No"
 (So strong!)
 Got sick and tired of seein' sistas being treated ill
 (She's strong!)
 They say to chill, they say my homegirl's not available
 (Stay strong!)
 I hear Mama they got her working on tha Payroll

 At 21 the brother "Smooth" he got a record deal
 been working hard been writin' songs about the things he feels
 he says it's real, 'cause I got bills, but I got skills
 my deck is stacked, if I could only get my shit on wax
 when it was ripe he took his tape up to the rec execs
 they smoked cigars and rolled their eye's at him behind their specs
 your shit is phat but I don't hear it in the format Jack
 what's all this black crap check page twenty one of your contract

 (Chorus)

 A friend of mine Roberta she got a job at the post office
 she was college edjamacated but got fired up at the law office
 I'm all alone two kids at home, I need a job just any job
 so I can get back on my feet like Tina "T"(urner)
 the boss came up to her said, "why don't you come home with me"
 I'd like to see you take off your clothes for me
 she said "No way man!"
 he said "You don't understand"
 "You lose your life, you lose your job if you don't do this shift!"

 (Chorus)

 I met a black man who became a police officer
 officer, officer, officer, officer, officer, overseer
 he tried to tell me it was the only job available
 either rob or join the mob 'cause I'm not salable
 one night he went out on an undercover sting-ing
 bought some smack tried to break the heroin ring-ring
 Two cops white cops saw juggling goin' down
 they spilled his brain like homey the fuckin' clown
 (He's gone!)
 Mama Mama Mama Mama I couldn't say no
 got sick and tired of seein' people bein' treated ill
 picked up my nines, walked up from behind
 tapped two of them on the neck so I could meet their eyes direct
 Pom! Pom!
 I didn't do it for tha payroll

 (Chorus