In the Ghetto

As the snow flies On a cold and gray Chicago mornin' 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 hungry mouth to feed In the ghetto (In the ghetto) People, can't you understand A 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 Or do we simply turn our heads And look the other way While the world turns And a hungry little boy with a runny nose Plays in the street as the cold wind blows In the ghetto (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 (In the ghetto) Then one night in desperation A young man breaks away He buys a gun and he steals a car And he tries to run, but he don't get far And his mama cries (In the ghetto) As a crowd gathers 'round An angry young man Face down on the street With a gun in his hand In the ghetto (In the ghetto) And her young man dies (in the ghetto) On a cold and gray Chicago mornin' Another little baby child is born In the ghetto (In the ghetto) And his mama cries (In the ghetto) (Oh)