[Verse 1]
Pack your bags, baby, move to the city
There's somethin' missin' here at home
You fix your hair and you're lookin' real pretty
It's time you're gettin' out on your own
You're always fightin' with your mama and your papa
Your family life is one big pain
When you gonna, gonna move to the city?
Ah, to the city where it all began

[Chorus]
You gotta move, you better move, uh
Ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma
Child, you better move

[Verse 2]
You stole your mama's car
And your daddy's plastic credit card
You're sixteen and you can't get a job
You're not goin' very far
You're always ridin' with the teachers and the police
The social life is too insane
When you gonna, gonna move to the city?
Ah, to the city where it all began

[Chorus]
You gotta move, you better move, oh, yeah
Ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma-ma-ma-ma move
[Post-Chorus]
Oh, to the city with the real nitty gritty
Oh, child, ain't it a pity?
Ooh, yeah

[Guitar Solo]

[Verse 3]
You're on the streets and it ain't so pretty
At least you get to do what you please
You do what you gotta do for your money
At times, you end up on your knees
You're always fightin' with the locals and the junkies
This city life is much too insane
But you, you had to move to the city
Ah, to the city where it all began

You had to move, you had to move
Ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma
Child, you had to move

[Post-Chorus]
Oh, to the city with the real nitty gritty
Oh, child, ain't it a pity?
Sometimes, you know it gets too shitty
Come on and hit me!