The Struggle Is Real

Struggle's real
So real

5 a.m. comes early, jacking Folgers in his cup
He wakes her up and lays her clothes out and packs her lunch
Got to rush to catch the school bus
Ponytails and toothbrush
Sometimes it seems it's too much
He waves goodbye, then he sighs
12-hour days and barely getting by
Her mama working third shift and he hopes she ain't back getting high
On a slippery slope slowly slip into a pit
Hanging off her dear life, losing grip but he refused to quit

I see the look in your eyes and I know how you feel
Work your fingers to the bone just to cover the bills
You wanna leave that single white trailer in the hollow for a house up on the hill
You don't care how they feel
'Cause the struggle is real
I know the struggle is real

She's almost 40 and still dancing on that brass pole
Customers are disrespectful, manager's an asshole
Her greater goals overshadow all the sorrows
5 a.m. will take forever, few more minutes 'til tomorrow
Not enough dollars in her garter for their house of dreams
Run into the dressing room, slams the door and starts to scream
Where she wants to be in life is still a distant image
At her wit's end, still is infinite, story hasn't ended

I see the look in your eyes and I know how you feel
Work your fingers to the bone just to cover the bills
You wanna leave that single white trailer in the hollow for a house up on the hill
You don't care how they feel
'Cause the struggle is real
I know the struggle is real

He walks outside and throws his tools into his pickup truck
Looks up and smiles, see her Altima is pulling up
Her weight is lifted, her door's open, and he knows she's sober
He grabs the holder, she finds comfort underneath his shoulder
As they embrace, all of their worries are erased
Because together they can face all the obstacles in place
Pulls out of the holler to go make an honest dollar
Paid dues won't lose, smile through the blues of blue collar

I see the look in your eyes and I know how you feel
Work your fingers to the bone just to cover the bills
You wanna leave that single white trailer in the hollow for a house up on the hill
You don't care how they feel
'Cause the struggle is real

I see the look in your eyes and I know just how you feel
Work your fingers to the bone just to cover the bills
You wanna leave that single white trailer in the hollow for a house up on the hill
You don't care how they feel
'Cause the struggle is real
I know the struggle is real