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...ee ha! 



His father works some days for fourteen hours 

And you can bet he barely makes a dollar 

His mother goes to scrub the floor 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...um hum 



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... 

Living just enough... 

For the city...ooh,ooh 

[repeat several times]



His hair is long, his feet are hard and gritty 

He spends his love walking the streets of New York City 

He's almost dead from breathing on air pollution 

He tried to vote 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 no where could be much colder 

If we don't change the world will soon be over 

Living just enough, just enough for the city!!!! 



La, la, la, la, la, la, 

Da Ba Da Da Da Da Da Da 

Da Da Da Da Da Da 

Da Ba Da Da Da Da Da Da Da 

[Repeat to end]