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 ee ha
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
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
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
Living just enough
For the city ooh ooh
Living just enough
For the city ooh ooh
Living just enough
For the city ooh ooh
Living just enough
For the city ooh ooh
Living just enough
For the city ooh ooh
Living just enough
For the city ooh ooh
Living just enough
For the city ooh ooh
Living just enough
For the city ooh ooh
Living just enough
For the city ooh ooh
Living just enough
For the city ooh ooh