THERE'S A LITTLE BOY
WAITIN' FOR THE BUS
ON THIRD AVENUE'S
EDGE
HE HOLDS
TWENTY-FIVE CENTS
FOR THE RIDE
IN HIS FREEZIN' FIST
'CAUSE THAT'S
THE ONLY WAY
HE CAN MAKE IT
'CROSS TOWN
FOR AN EDUCATION
BUT HE THINKS
I CAN DO THIS
BUT THERE'S
A LITTLE GIRL
ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE CITY
DRYIN' HER EYES
'CAUSE SHE'S GOIN'
TO SCHOOL
WITH HER NEW LOOK
FOR THE FIRST TIME
SHE PULLS HER HAT
OVER HER BALDING HEAD
AND GIVES HER MOM
A KISS
AND SAYS MAMA
I CAN DO THIS
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU
BUT THAT JUST
MAKES ME CRY
TWO KIDS SO YOUNG
SO PRECIOUS
HAVING TO FIGHT
FOR THEIR LIVES
AND THEY'RE SO STRONG
AND EVEN AFTER ALL
THE HEARTACHE
THEY'VE BEEN LIVIN' WITH
IF THEY CAN DO THAT
THEN I CAN DO THIS
THERE'S A WOMAN
IN HER BEDROOM
PACKIN' UP HER BAGS
SHE KNOWS
SHE HAS TO MOVE FAST
IF SHE WANTS
TO GET AWAY
SHE LOOKS AT HER BODY
COVERED IN BRUISES
AND SHE TURNS
TO HER KIDS
AND THINKS
I CAN DO THIS
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU
BUT THAT JUST
MAKES ME CRY
A MOTHER
AND HER CHILDREN
HAVING TO RUN
FOR THEIR LIVES
AND THAT'S SO STRONG
THAT EVEN AFTER
ALL THE HEARTACHE
THEY'VE BEEN LIVIN' WITH
IF THEY CAN DO THAT
WELL THEN I CAN DO THIS
YES THIS IS
THE HARDEST
THING I'VE
EVER HAD TO DO
BUT WHEN I
THINK OF ALL THE PAIN
AND SUFFERIN'
OTHERS
HAVE GONE THROUGH
I KNOW THAT
SOMEHOW I'LL SURVIVE
AFTER LOSIN' YOU
I CAN DO THIS
I CAN DO THIS
I CAN DO THIS
4 BAR
BREAK
I CAN DO THIS