Charles Bradley – Why Is It So Hard
Charles Bradley is no stranger to hard times. Born in Gainesville, Florida in 1948 and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Charles spent the better part of his childhood living on the streets. One of the more optimistic moments of his childhood came in 1962, when his sister took him to see James Brown at The Apollo. Brown’s energy formed a lasting impression on Charles. He went home and immediately began practicing microphone tricks with a broom attached to a string, imitating the Godfather’s every move. With his newfound inspiration came an urgent desire to get off the streets and make something of himself.
Why is it so hard
To make it in America
I try so hard
To make it in America
A land of milk and honey,
A land supposed to be built with love
It take love and understanding
To live and let live
I was born in Gainesville florida
I traveled far and wide
then i moved to brooklyn,New York
Had hard times…But sometimes I hold on
Why is it so hard
To make it in America
I try so hard
To make it in America
Seems like nothing was going right
So I say to myself
I got to move away from here
I went to upstate New York
a little town they call Poughkeepsie
got me a job
to get away from all this stress
but I couldn’t get away
no matter how far I went
seems like nothing gonna change
Everything still remains the same
Why is it so hard
To make it in America
I try so hard
To make it in America
Why
Tell me tell me
We gotta make a change in America
Helping somebody
