Back in the day Back in the hills We were busted Made a living on the charity Mama couldn't keep her job And the alimony check never came on time We were poor, I wasn't proud Only angry that our daddy couldn't send us more Always embarra**ed by my free lunch card And food stamps for the grocery store No keepin' up with the Joneses No keepin' up with the Joneses When your stuck on the bottom You take what you can get You say "ooh ooh, ooh ooh, ooh ooh" I went to school in hand-me-downs from my cousin Baggy britches seemed to suit me well Kinda thin and kinda loose in the middle Slouching in after the tardy bell The teacher never called me trash But I knew what she was thinking when she looked at me Born to be the undercla** Growing up to make a living on charity No keepin' up with the Joneses No keepin' up with the Joneses
When your stuck on the bottom You take what you can get You say "ooh ooh, ooh ooh, ooh ooh" Don't go looking down your nose at me neighbor I can spot you from a yard away Don't try to judge me by the clothes I'm wearing or the cars in my driveway I'm not rich but I'm not poor any longer And I'm happy as a man can be I'm proud to work, I'm proud to pay my taxes And I'm grateful for my family No keepin' up with the Joneses No keepin' up with the Joneses When you come up from the bottom You love whatever you got Say "ooh ooh, ooh ooh, ooh ooh" No keepin' up with the Joneses No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no Ain't nothing, ain't no one, gonna hold me down Ain't nothing, ain't no one, gonna hold me down Ain't nothing, ain't no one, gonna hold me down No, no, no, no, no, no, oh, oh