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...



His father works some days for fourteen hours

And you can beleive 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...



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 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