[Verse 1]
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

[Verse 2]
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)

[Chorus]
Da da da, da da da da
Da da da da la la la
Da da da da
Da da da la la (Hey)

[Verse 3]
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 (Yeah)
[Verse 4]
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 (Yeah)

[Chorus]
Da da da, da da da da
Da da da da la la la
Da da da da
Da da da la la (Ow)

[Post-Chorus]
(Living just enough for the city)
Living for the city, yeah
(Oh, living just enough for the city)
Ain't nothing but a city, yeah
(Oh, living just enough for the city)
Living for the city, yeah
(Oh, living just enough for the city)
Nothing but a city, ah
(Oh, living just enough for the city)
Living for the city, yeah
(Oh, living just enough for the city)
The funky, crowded city
(Oh, living just enough for the city)
Everybody put their hands together now, woo
(Oh, living just enough for the city)
Hmm, for the city now
(Oh, living just enough for the city)
Hmm, for the city, yeah
(Oh, living just enough for the city)
Hmm, for the city, yeah
(Oh, living just enough for the city)
Hmm, for the city, yeah
[Chorus]
Da da da, da da da da
Da da da da la la la
Da da da da
Da da da la la
Da da da, da da da da
Da da da da la la la
Da da da da
Da da da la la
Da da da, da da da da
Da da da da la la la
Da da da da
Da da da la la
Da da da, da da da da
Da da da da la la la
Da da da da
Da da da la la