When I was a young boy

Growing up in the ghetto

Hanging out on corners

Singin' with the fellas

Lookin' for the cute chicks

Trying to find a bit of fun

Looking for some trouble

Or anyone who'll give me some



I was young and crazy

In the ghetto

Didn't know what my life would be

In the ghetto

I was dumb and oh so lazy

In the ghetto

Something had a spell on me

In the ghetto



You wanna know what I'm talkin' bout?

Talkin' 'bout ghetto life

Ghetto Liiiiiiiiiiiife

You wanna know what I'm singin' 'bout?

Talkin' 'bout ghetto life

Ghetto Liiiiiiiiiiiife



When I was a young man

Kind of free and fancy

Met this little cute girl

She said her name was Nancy

She had pigtails to her shoulders

She couldn't have been much older

She taught me what I had to know

To make a girl not want to go



She was very kinky

In the ghetto

She laid her pigtails down on me

In the ghetto

And I was feeling oh so sneaky

In the ghetto

I had to see what love could be

In the ghetto



I knew it all along

That my game was strong

But I was wrong that time

I knew I had to pray

And give myself away

Did you think I was man enough?

Yeah

Did you think I was smart enough?

Yeah

Did you think I was strong enough?

Yeah

Did you think I'd work it out?



The Ghetto Life



Sing it to ya, hit it baby baby

Talkin 'bout ghetto life

You got to get on over

Talkin 'bout ghetto life



When I was a young boy

Tenements, slums and corner bums

Playing tag with winos

The only way to have some fun

One thing 'bout the ghetto

You don't ha