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, ohh
Living just enough for the city, ohh
Living just enough for the city, ohh
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

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