In The Ghetto
Cunnie Williams Lyrics
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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
People, don't you understand
The 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,
Do we simply turn our heads
And look the other way
Well the world turns
And a hungry little boy with a runny nose
Plays in the street as the cold wind blows
In the ghetto
And his hunger burns
So it starts to roam the streets at night
Ans he learns how to steal
Ans he learns how to fight
In the ghetto
Then one night in desperation
A young man breaks away
He buys a gun, steals a car,
Tries to run, but he don't get far
And his mama cries
As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man
Face down on the street with a gun in his hand
In the ghetto
As her young man dies,
On a cold and gray chicago mornin'
Another little baby child is born
In the ghetto
Cunnie Williams's song "In The Ghetto" tells the story of poverty, struggle, and crime in a poor neighborhood. The lyrics start by describing the birth of a baby in the ghetto, whose mother fears she cannot provide for him. The chorus urges listeners to recognize the need for compassion and assistance to prevent the child from growing into a troubled adult. The second verse shows the boy growing up in dire circumstances, forced to resort to stealing and fighting to survive. The final verse portrays a young man attempting a desperate escape from the ghetto, but ultimately meeting a tragic end. The cycle of poverty and violence continues unabated as another child is born into the same hopeless conditions.
The lyrics of "In The Ghetto" are a stark indictment of the systemic inequality and neglect that lead to poverty and violence in urban areas. They invite listeners to reflect on their own privilege and ask whether they are doing enough to address social injustice. The song also serves as a reminder that despite the harsh realities of life in the ghetto, hope and resilience can still emerge in even the bleakest of circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
At the snow flies
On a cold winter day
On a cold and gray chicago mornin'
It's a bleak morning in the city of Chicago
A poor little baby child is born
A newborn baby arrives in a poverty-stricken neighborhood
In the ghetto
In a rundown urban area with little hope for the future
And his mama cries
The baby's mother weeps because she knows it will be hard to provide for another child
'cause if there's one thing that she don't need
She doesn't need another hungry mouth to feed
People, don't you understand
Why can't people see the plight of those who live in the ghetto?
The child needs a helping hand
The newborn will need support to thrive
Or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day
Without proper guidance and love, the child may turn to violence and rebellion later in life
Take a look at you and me,
Let us examine our own lives and actions
Are we too blind to see,
Are we ignorant of the problems faced by those in the ghetto?
Do we simply turn our heads
Do we pretend not to notice?
And look the other way
Ignoring the struggles of our fellow human beings
Well the world turns
Life goes on
And a hungry little boy with a runny nose
A child in the ghetto, suffering from hunger and illness
Plays in the street as the cold wind blows
Despite his hardships, the child finds joy in simple activities
So it starts to roam the streets at night
Out of desperation, the child turns to wandering the dangerous streets for food and shelter
Ans he learns how to steal
The child begins to steal to survive
Ans he learns how to fight
He has to learn violence too to defend himself
Then one night in desperation
Driven to extremes by his circumstances
A young man breaks away
The boy becomes a young man and decides to leave the ghetto
He buys a gun, steals a car,
He turns to crime to try to escape the poverty and violence of his surroundings
Tries to run, but he don't get far
Despite his best efforts, he is caught by authorities
And his mama cries
His mother grieves for her son's predicament
As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man
The community recognizes the all-too-familiar situation of a young man pushed to the brink
Face down on the street with a gun in his hand
The young man is killed in a violent confrontation with the police
As her young man dies,
The mother suffers the unspeakable pain of losing her child
On a cold and gray chicago mornin'
Another cold and grey morning arrives in Chicago
Another little baby child is born
A new life begins under the same harsh circumstances as the previous generation
In the ghetto
The never-ending cycle of poverty and violence continues
Contributed by Scarlett H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
HANK-ARSEN07 2005
I like this song!
gira gasira
yo cunnie rappin` iIt` funking cool!! thanks for this jewels!!!
thefuzzgroove
merci !
ANTANANARIVO
Yes!
gira gasira
ups It`s.....