A boy is born in hardtime 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

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
You'd best believe she hardly gets a penny
Living just enough just enough for the city

His sister's black but she is good and 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 coloured people
Living just enough just enough for the city

His hair is long his feet are hard and gritty
He spends his life walkin' the streets of New York City
He's almost dead from breathing air pollution
He tried to vote but to him there's no solution
Living just enough just enough for the city
I hope you hear inside my voice of sorrow
That motivates you to make a better tomorrow
This place is cruel nowhere could be much colder
If we won't change the world will soon be over
Living just enough stop giving just enough for the city

Living just enough just enough for the city
Living just enough just enough for the city