Be For Real

(album: I Miss You - 1972)

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 thing 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...
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...
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)