Lyrics

See that young man
Standing on the block
Somebody shook his hand
Gave him cash for a rock
He's got his eyes open
Looking out for the cops
Check it
He wants to quit
But he can't stop
Cuz his little girl
Needs a pair of shoes & socks
And he'd better bring some food home
At six o'clock
Cuz baby girl ain't old enough
To understand
Why her daddy can't seem to stop
The stomach cramps

Y'all don't know what we go through
Everyday livin in the ghetto
Everyday livin in the ghetto
Everyday livin in the ghetto

See that old lady
On her way to church
She's praying everyday
Asking God to stop the hurt
Somethings wrong with her only son
She can tell
Just turned twenty-one
And he ain't looking well
Check it
Now if you're looking at him
Let me know
Don't it look like
Homeboys tripping off some blow?
But mama keeps praying
And she won't stop
Until her baby boy
Gets off the crack rock

CHORUS

Look at baby girl over there
On her way home
Boyfriend never showed up
Now he's all alone
Gets off the bus on the block
Something's wrong
Walks to the scene
Trying to see what's going on
Who is that young man
Laying there in the street
Could it be her baby's daddy
Underneath the white sheet?
Panic sets in, followed by relief
There he is with her daughter
Coming up the street

CHORUS

Look at little sister over there
On her way home
Boyfriend never showed up
Now he's all alone
Gets off the bus on the block
Something's wrong
Walks to the scene
Trying to see what's going on
Who is that young man
Laying there in the street
Could it be her baby's daddy
Underneath the white sheet?
Panic sets in, followed by relief
There he is with her daughter
Coming up the street

CHORUS

Once upon a time
We were draped in chains
Locked in shackles
With no hope
We swung from the rope
Freedom was like
Wishing for a trillion dollars
And now years after
The cotton field hollers
We use the rope to hang ourselves
Shackled by the ghetto
We are not yet free
Ya dig?

CHORUS