A boy is born
In hard time
Mississippi
Surrounded by
Four walls that
Ain't so pretty
His parents gave
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...yeah!
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!
Livin' for the City
Yeah!
Ain't nothin'
But a pity
Eeeh!
Livin' for the City...
Ain't nothin'
But a pity
Eeeh!