[Intro]
Yeah, yeah
Hey, oh-oh, oh-oh
Yeah, yeah
Oh
Ooh, oh
Yeah, oh
[Verse 1]
When we get by, we'll make it by
I look in your eyes, when I look in your eyes
I know what you're thinking of
'Tis a beautiful day, and you're welcome to stay (Welcome to stay)
We can spend some time and catch the matinee (Matinee)
Sugar, you're so fine, and the day is fine
When we make it by and we get by with love
[Chorus]
When we get by, we'll make it by (Oh, yeah)
When we get by with love (When we get by with love)
When we get by, we'll make it by (Oh)
When we get by with love (Oh, yeah, yeah)
[Verse 2]
When we get by, we'll make it by
I look in your eyes, I look in your eyes
They're pretty as the skies above (Everything, everything, everything)
Everything, everything, everything is okay
We could make love in the shade
Sugar, you're so fine, and the journey's fine
When we make it by and we get by with love
[Chorus]
When we get by, we'll make it by (Oh, yeah, oh, yeah)
When we get by with love (When we get by with love)
When we get by, we'll make it by (Oh, yeah, oh, yeah)
When we get by with love
We'll make it by, when we get by with love
When we get by, we'll make it by (Oh, yeah)
When we get by with love (Yeah, we'll make it by)
When we get by, we'll make it by (Oh, yeah, oh, yeah)
When we get by with love
We'll make it by, when we get by with love
[Bridge]
Oh, oh-oh, oh
We'll make it by, yeah
Oh, oh-oh, oh
We'll make it by
Oh, oh-oh, oh
We'll make it by, by, by
[Verse 3]
When we get by, we'll make it by (Oh, babe)
When we get by with love
I look in your eyes, when I look in your eyes
I know what you're thinking of
'Cause it's just a beautiful day and you know that's a fact
You scratch mine, and I'll scratch your back
Sugar, you're so fine, and the journey's fine
And we'll be fine
Oh, when we make it by and we get by with love
[Chorus]
When we get by, we'll make it by (Oh, yeah, oh, yeah, ooh)
When we get by with love (When we get by with love)
When we get by, we'll make it by (Oh, yeah)
When we get by with love (We'll make it by)
When we get by, we'll make it by (Oh, yeah, oh, yeah)
When we get by with love (Oh, yeah, oh, yeah)
When we get by, we'll make it by (Oh, yeah, oh, yeah)
When we get by with love
We'll make it by, when we get by with love
[Outro]
Ooh
When we get by, we'll make it by
When we get by with love
We'll make it by, when we get by with love
When we get by, we'll make it by
When we get by with love
When we get by, we'll make it by
When we get by with love
We'll make it by, when we get by with love
We'll make it by, when we get by with love
When we get by, we'll make it by
When we get by with love
We'll make it by, when we get by with love
When we get by, we'll make it by
When we get by with love
When we get by, we'll make it by
When we get by with love
When we get by, we'll make it by
When we get by with love
“When we get by with love” points to the hard parts of life hurting less with someone beside you. “You’re so fine” carries real physical attraction and admiration he’s taken by her, plainly and without pretense. “Everything is okay” captures how being near her makes the world feel settled, even at rest.
The imagery backs this up: making love, drinking chocolate lemonade, just being together. It’s love found in the ordinary. By the time he sings “the journey’s fine, and we’ll be fine,” it sounds like certainty he already knows that whatever comes, having her there is enough.
D’Angelo in this song describes love as something steady and a source of comfort. “When we get by with love” is his own quiet realization: love is what’s carrying him through, even the harder parts of life. “I know what you’re thinking of” comes with the easy confidence of someone close enough to read her without needing words. “You’re welcome to stay”the idea of spending the day together, sounds like he genuinely doesn’t want her to leave🤧, just her time is enough. “Sugar, you’re so fine” is the attraction said plainly, the way you’d say it to someone you’re comfortable with. And “the day is fine, and we’ll be fine” is reassurance to himself as much as to her, trusting that together, it’s enough.