A boy is born in hard time Mississippi
Surrounded by four walls that ain't so pretty
His parents give him love and affection
To keep him strong, moving in the right direction
Living just enough, just enough for the city
His father works some days for fourteen hours
And you can bet, he barely makes a dollar
His mother goes to scrub the floors for many
And you'd best believe, she hardly gets a penny
Living just enough, just enough for the city
His sister's black, but she is sho'nuff pretty
Her skirt is short, but Lord her legs are sturdy
To walk to school, she's got to get up early
Her clothes are old, but never are they dirty
Living just enough, just enough for the city
Her brother's smart, he's got more sense than many
His patience's long, but soon he won't have any
To find a job is like a haystack needle
'Cause where he lives they don't use colored people
Living just enough, just enough for the city, yeah
(Living just enough for the city, whoa) Everybody, city, yeah
(Living just enough for the city, whoa) Ain't nothin' but the city
(Living just enough for the city, whoa) Everybody, city, yeah
(Living just enough for the city, whoa) Ain't nothin' but the city
(Living just enough for the city, whoa) Living for the city, yeah
(Living just enough, for the city, whoa) The funky, cryin' city
(Living just enough, for the city, whoa) Living for the city
(Living just enough, for the city, whoa) Ain't nothin' but the city
(Living just enough, for the city, whoa) Everybody clap you hand together now
(Living just enough, for the city, whoa) For the city
(Living just enough, for the city, whoa) For the city, yeah, yeah
(Living just enough, for the city, whoa)
(Living just enough, for the city, whoa)
The bus for New York City!
Hey bus driver, I'm getting on that, hold it
Thanks a lot
Wow, New York, just like I pictured it
Skyscrapers and everything
Psst, hey, hey brother, hey come here slick
Hey you look, you look hip man
Hey, you wanna make yourself five bucks, man?
Yeah, brother
Look here, run this across the street for me right quick
Okay, run this across the street for me
What? (Up against that goddamn car!) Huh? (Let's go)
I didn't know, what?
Gimme your hands up, you punk
I'm just going across the street
Put that leg up, shut your mouth
Hell no, what did I do?
Okay, turn around, turn around
Put your hands behind your back, let's go, lets go
A jury of your peers having found you guilty, ten years
What?
Come on, come on, get in that cell, nigger
God, Lord
His hair is long, his feet are hard and gritty
He spends the life walking the streets of New York City
He's almost dead from breathing in air pollution
He tried and fought, but to him there's no solution
Living just enough, just enough for the city (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I hope you hear inside my voice of sorrow
And that it motivates you to make a better tomorrow
This place is cruel, nowhere could be much colder
If we don't change, the world will soon be over
Living just enough, stop giving just enough for the city