We're still here And we're going strong We're getting tired of proving we belong We're still here And we're going strong We're getting tired of proving we belong We're still here And we're going strong We're getting tired of proving we belong A letter to her kids was the last thing she wrote At a place in the Bronx where she lost all hope She tried and tried to survive and provide But conditions she faced were too much to take Left her 4 children in the Philippines To nanny in the states and send'em back dreams Cuz that's the way it works in poor countries Where there is no work and you have to leave For little pay long hours no job benefits Fired if you tell or just the hell of it Abuse is what they call it and so is slavery To be a migrant worker is to display bravery I imagine the sacrifice it brings me to tears To not see your children for so many years Felt it belonged in our land of liberty But something went wrong when they took her dignity (We're still here, we're going strong) Here even when the smoke is cleared Strong even when the hope is gone We're getting tired of proving we belong But we keep holdin' on (We're still here, we're going strong) Here even after all these years Strong even when it all went wrong We're getting tired of proving we belong But we keep holdin' on We've come a long way since Long Duk Dong Ridiculed for generations while the mock us and taunt With their chings chongs Rosie O'Donnell But that joke's more dumb than George dub and your mom What oh you wondering where I'm from Is it confusing this colored skin is of an American Isn't this the land of opportunity rights and equals Where Hollywood likes to give Asian roles to white people But still we'll find a way to get on the tube Props to Yul Kwon and American Dance Crews Cuz that's what I call reality TV Smack in your face raw like Pacquiao handles beef See, if you can't recognize then widen your eyelids Instead of pulling'em back Miley Cyrus These blind kids be keeping alive stereotypes like a virus But whatever ridiculous ignorant shit that you give us you'll still find us here (We're still here, we're going strong) Here even when the smoke is cleared Strong even when the hope is gone We're getting tired of proving we belong But we keep holdin' on (We're still here, we're going strong) Here even after all these years Strong even when it all went wrong We're getting tired of proving we belong But we keep holdin' on We're still here though they choose not to see us We ain't Ivy Leaguers and Tila Tequila's only We're that lonely testimony cuz stories never told this You hold us up like trophies Trophies like model minorities But what about all the refugees of war I speak for my Southeast Asian brethren Peace to my fam who grew up in Camp Pendleton Like a pendulum it's back and it's forth Half of us is upper class half of us is poor Half of us is doctors studying health care The other half is babies having babies for welfare And as a sign of our grief When we miss home we die on our sleep So don't question why I'm inspired to speak Cuz against all odds and despite your beliefs (We're still here, we're going strong) Here even when the smoke is cleared Strong even when the hope is gone We're getting tired of proving we belong But we keep holdin' on (We're still here, we're going strong) Here even after all these years Strong even when it all went wrong We're getting tired of proving we belong But we keep holdin' on