The world is a ghetto
Geto Boys Lyrics

What we see (what we see) everyday (everyday)
The daily reality of living in poverty-stricken areas

Livin' in the ghetto this is where I stay
The singer resides in a neighborhood plagued by crime and destitution

(What we do) what we do (to get by) to get by
Necessity drives people to do what they must to survive in a harsh environment

Live or die, the world is a ghetto
The idea that life is a never-ending struggle, especially for those living in ghettoized areas

Let's take a journey to the other side
A metaphorical exploration of the struggles that many must face in poverty-stricken communities

Where many people learn to live with their handicaps, while the others die
In a world with limited resources, those who cannot adapt to their circumstances often struggle to survive

Where muthafuckas had no money spots
Money and power are scarce commodities in the world of the ghetto

And if they did then they ass went insane
Those who attain wealth and status in the ghetto often become corrupt and selfish in their dealings with others

When all the money stops
A sudden lack of resources can be catastrophic in an already difficult environment

I'm from the ghetto so I'm used to that
Growing up in poverty fosters an environment in which one is forced to become resilient against difficult situations

Look on your muthafuckin map and find Texas, and see where Houston at
The singer is from Houston, Texas, which is known for its high levels of poverty and crime

It's on the borderline of hard times
Houston is known for its difficult living conditions

And it's seldom that you hear niggas prayin' and givin' God time
The harshness of life in the ghetto can lead to feelings of hopelessness and a lack of spiritual connection

That's why your ask my mom pray for me
The singer is aware of the dangers of living in the ghetto and hopes for protection from a higher power

Because I know that even I gots to die, and he got a day for me
A recognition of the inevitability of death and the hope for an afterlife

And every morning I wake up I'm kinda glad to be alive
Despite the difficulties of life in the ghetto, the artist is grateful for another day of life

'Cause thousands of my homeboys died
The artist has lost many friends to the violence of the ghetto

And very few died of old age
Violence and tragedy often cut short the lives of those living in poverty

In most cases the incident covered up the whole page
The violence and despair that occurs in the ghetto is often overlooked or underreported in the news

From Amsterdam to Amarillo
The struggles of life in the ghetto are felt across the world, from urban cities to rural towns

It ain't no secret
The conditions in the ghetto are a well-known fact

Five hundred niggas died in guerilla warfare
A reference to the violence and wars that ravage many parts of the world

In a village in Africa, but didn't nobody care
The suffering and violence that occurs in some parts of the world is often ignored by those in power or in other regions

They just called up the goddamn gravedigger
The indifference of those in power often leads to further suffering and death for those in need

Just like they do in the 5th Ward
The singer has witnessed similar callousness and indifference in their own community

In the South Park and The Bronx and the Watts
Poverty and violence are not unique to the singer's community, but are experienced in other areas as well

You know they got crooked cops
The institutions meant to protect and serve often perpetuate the cycle of poverty and violence

Working for the system
The artist highlights the corruptness of the system that leaves many in poverty

Makin' po' muthafuckas out of victims
The system preys on the impoverished and leaves them worse off than before

'Cause don't nobody give a fuck about the po'
The singer expresses the sentiment that the poor are often ignored or actively oppressed by those in power

It's double jeopardy if you're black or latino
The intersection of poverty and racial discrimination creates even harsher living conditions for those in black and latino communities

They got their muthafuckin' drugs in the slums
The ghetto is often the site of drug addiction and abuse, which perpetuates the cycle of poverty and violence

Got us killing one another over crumbs
The desperation of living in poverty sometimes leads to violent conflict within the community

Think I'm lying? Well muthafucka I got proof
The artist is confident in their knowledge and experience of the struggles of the ghetto, and has evidence to support their claims

Name a section in your city where minorities group
The singer challenges the listener to recognize the existence of similarly impoverished and oppressed communities in their own area

And little babies sittin' on the porch smellin' smelly
The suffering of children in the ghetto is particularly heartbreaking to witness

Cryin' 'cause they ain't got no food in they bellies
The singer acknowledges the tragedy of malnutrition and hunger in the ghetto

They call my neighborhood a jungle
The ghetto is often stigmatized and demonized by those who are unfamiliar with its reality

And me an animal, like they do the people of Rwanda
The comparison of those living in the ghetto to animals is a dehumanizing and racist trope that has been used to justify violence and oppression

Fools fleeing their countries to come here, black
Many black immigrants come to the United States in search of a better life, only to find that they must continue to struggle against the harsh conditions of poverty and racism

But see the same bullshit and head right back
Some immigrants find that the struggles they face in the ghetto are not worth the supposed benefits of living in the United States

They find out what niggas already know
The struggles of life in the ghetto are not unique to immigrants, but are experienced by those who have grown up in the community as well

The world is a ghetto
The idea that the conditions of the ghetto are not isolated, but are part of a larger global issue involving poverty, violence, and discrimination

What's up outta towner? Southern nigga downer?
The artist addresses an outsider to their community with suspicion and hostility

I wish you would bring your muthafuckin' ass around here
The artist challenges the outsider to enter their community and witness its reality

With that hip shit shit from your block
The artist is resentful of those who are ignorant of the struggles of life in the ghetto, and who try to offer solutions from a place of privilege

You fuck around and get shipped home to ya momma in a pine box
The singer warns that those who enter the ghetto without understanding the reality of the situation may not survive

'Cause we don't play that shit in 5th Ward
The artist is proud of the strength and resilience of their community, and resents outsiders who try to impose their own solutions on the ghetto

We got killas and hustlas, and playas too, so nigga disregard
The singer points out that their community is complex and diverse, and cannot be easily understood or solved by outsiders

What you seeing on them western movies
Many people have a simplistic and unrealistic view of life in the ghetto, based on stereotypes perpetuated by media

'Cause yo! I ain't never rode a horse before
The singer is highlighting the absurdity of western movie tropes when applied to the reality of the ghetto

Ho, think we slow? Smash the gas
The artist is challenging the outsider's assumptions about their intelligence and ability

And watch how fast I'll put these hands on yo' bitch ass
The artist is threatening violence against the outsider if they continue to disrespect their community

Try to load them dice, you'll meet the gravedigger
The singer is warning against attempts to cheat or manipulate the situation in the ghetto, as it often leads to tragic consequences

'Cause game recognize game, shiesty ass nigga
The singer is asserting their own awareness of the harsh reality of the ghetto, and pointing out that they will not be fooled by outsiders who try to exploit the community

See I done seen fools die for less
The artist is highlighting the tragedy of the unrelenting violence that occurs in the ghetto

Than a goddamn cigarette butt, for fuckin' wit my set
The smallest infractions can sometimes lead to violence and tragic consequences in the ghetto

So get that frown off your face busta
The artist is telling the outsider to stop judging their community and show some respect

'Cause yo' ghetto ain't no harder than mine, muthafucka
The singer is asserting that the struggles and violence that occur in the outsider's community are no worse than the reality of the ghetto, and that both should be treated with equal concern and attention