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 [bad word] 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 [bad word] 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)