Be for Real

Hey, lady, can I say something to you for a minute? Please? No, Now before you take your coat off, That's it I got something to tell you See, what I have to say is so very important to our relationship Why is it that every time we go out on the town, we get around our friends? Man, you're always talking about what you got, huh Went out and bought for you How much money I make And what school our children go to And all the fancy clothes and big pretty cars The big diamond rings, and them fantastic mink coats Is you for real? No, I don't think you are Sit down, No, no, sit down Now don't say nothing, You see Wait a minute, wait a minute, that is your problem That is your problem, You're always saying the wrong tthing at the right time You see I don't--I don't know how to explain this to you The best I can tell you is what my mother told me as I was coming up She used to say, "Son, chances go 'round," She said, "The same people that you meet going up They make the same old faces coming down," Heh, tell the truth You see, people today, they come out there to party They come out to party, man They didn't come out to hear all that jive mess you talking about You standing up in the corner with a bottle of champagne taking about Harry, Joe, and Dick and Bobby and what they ain't got And they live down in the lower development homes, and you won't even help You won't even buy 'em a drink Is that any way to meet them? If you're gonna boast, boast around somebody that has what you have Don't make your own brothers and sisters feel bad You see Listen I know you know what I'm talking about because from time to time I can remember you coming to me putting your head on my shoulder and crying "Oh, papa, why? Why? Why don't nobody wanna be my friend?" You told me a long time ago, You said, "Papa, what am I doing?" I didn't wanna tell you that I thought you had sense enough to realize what you're doing, but I see you don't Sit down and listen to me, No, sit down! You see, people are too sensitive today They don't wanna hear all that jive you talking back You see, they don't wanna hear about what you got cause they're trying to get it, too Heh, tell the truth I can't very much blame her As much as it hurts me, it hurts to see people going around behind our backs saying that "This woman this, this woman that," or "she ain't this" or "she ain't that" I wanna be proud of you, mama I wanna be proud of you Listen, as long as you live As long as you live whether you're with me or not Be for real, girl Just be for real, yeah, (Be for real) Be for real, girl Be, be, be for real, yeah, (Be for re-e-e-eal) Be for real You shouldn't have to worry about how you've been living good No, if you're smartly dressed, Hey, baby, Hey, baby What you should be doing is getting down on your knees every night And thanking the man above for being blessed right now Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh If you want your friends to think you're starting with a smile Be for real, girl Just be, be for real, (Be for real) Be, be for real I can't let you go on chasing my friends away Because of the silly and stupid things you say Yeah, baby, Yeah, baby, Hey, baby You better dig yourself there, woman Putting people down is less best to you It just don't pay, Hey, yeah Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh I want people today by starting with a smile Be for real, girl I know, I know I want you to do is just be for real (Be for real) Hey, lady, Yeah, baby, Yeah, baby (Be for real, girl) Be for real, honey Just be, be for real (Be for real) I don't want your money, I don't need your money (Be for real, girl) Just be for real, Just be for real, mama Don't do it for me, do it for yourself (Be for real) Be for real, honey Yeah, yeah, Tell 'em ' bout it, honey (Be for real, girl) Be for real, mama, Hey, yeah Just be, be, be for real, (Be for real)