johnny poverty

in the middle of the city where the wind blows icy cold

standing on the corner in his raggedy summer clothes

he's little for his age but he's almost six years old

playing in the street when the traffic gets kinda slow

his momma's been dead and his daddy's still unemployed

can you tell me what lies ahead

for this little bitty baby boy

now tell me

whatcha gonna be

johnny poverty

will you grow to be a mighty mighty man

up in washington

d.c. where you gonna go

i wanna know your destiny

johnny poverty

now you gotta stay alive and i know it's hard to do

'cause i used to be a little boy just like you

you wanna run away but you got nowhere to go

so you have to stick around where the hookers and the pushers flow

can't you see what i am

johnny?

i'm not much of a man

johnny

you better be the best that you can than be a bum like me

so tell me

whatcha gonna be

johnny poverty

will you grow to be a mighty mighty man

up in washington

d.c. where you gonna go

i wanna know your destiny

johnny poverty

johnny

johnny

johnny

johnny