in the ghetto

as the snow flies

on a cold and gray chicago morn'

a poor little baby child is born

in the ghetto

and his mama cries

'cause if there's one thing that she don't need

it's another little hungry mouth to feed

in the ghetto

people

don't you understand

the child needs a helping hand

or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day

take a look at you and me

are we too blind to see

do we simply turn our heads and look the other way?

as the world turns

and a hungry little boy with a runny nose

plays in the street as the cold wind blows

in the ghetto

and his hunger burns

so he starts to roam the streets at night

he learns how to steal

and he learns how to fight

in the ghetto

then one night in desperation

the young man breaks away

he buys a gun

steals a car

tries to run

but he don't get far

and his mama cries

as a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man

face down on the street

a gun in his hand

in the ghetto

and as her young man dies

on a cold and gray chicago morn'

another little baby child is born

in the ghetto

and her mama cries