Livin' For The City

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

Movin' in the right direction

Livin' 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

And you'd best believe

She hardly gets a penny

Livin' just enough

Just enough for the city

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

Livin' 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 black people

Living just enough

Just enough for the city

Livin' just enough

For the city

Livin' just enough

For the city

Livin' just enough

For the city

Livin' just enough

For the city

Livin' just enough

For the city

For the smokin' crowded city

Livin' for the city

For the city