Living For The City (1973) - Stevie Wonder.
Lyrics:
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 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...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)
(spoken)
bus for new york city- hey busdriver Im getting on there hold it - thanks a lot- wow- new york- just like I pictured it-skyscrapers-and everythang- pssst hey hey brother hey comere slick - hey you look hip man- you wanna make yourself five bucks- yea brother i aint scared- look here run this across the street for me right quick alrite up against that GD car lets go "huh?"keep your hands up! I didnt know-i was just going across the street! shut your mouth! what'd i do? turn around turn around put your hands behind your back lets go lets go!
the jury of your peers having found you guilty- 10 years! what? c'mon get in the cell ......
His hair is long, his feet are hard and gritty
He spends his life walking the streets of New York City
He's almost dead from breathing in 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, stop giving 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 Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da
(Repeat to end)
