Little Ghetto Boy
Hathaway Donny Lyrics
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Whatcha' gonna do when you grow up
And have to face responsiblity?
Will you spend your days and nights in the pool room?
Will you sell caps of madness to the neighborhood?
Little ghetto boy
You already know how proud life can be
'cause you've seen so much pain and misery
Little ghetto boy
Your daddy was blown away
He robbed that grocery store
Don't you know that was a sad, sad old day?
All your young life
You've seen such misery and pain
The world is a cruel place to live
And it ain't gonna change
You're so young
You've got so far to go on
And don't think you'll reach your goal
Young man, little ghetto boy, look at you
Little ghetto boy
When, when, when you become a men
You can make things change if you just take the stand
You gotta believe it yourself in all you do
You've gotta fight to make it better
Then you will see how others will start believing to
Then, my son, things will start to get better
Everything has got to get better,
Everything has got to get better
In "Little Ghetto Boy," Hathaway Donny talks about a young boy growing up in a poor and disadvantaged neighborhood-the "ghetto." The song tells the story of the struggles and challenges the little boy faces, and it calls on him to take responsibility for his future. The lyrics pose a series of questions to the little boy-what will he do when he grows up? Will he succumb to the negative influences around him and spend his days in the pool room, or will he rise above and create a better future for himself?
The song highlights the reality of life in a ghetto and how it can be challenging for young people to find a way out. Hathaway makes reference to the boy's father, who was killed after robbing a grocery store. The young boy has seen a lot of pain and misery in his life, and the world seems cruel and unfair. But the song ends on an upbeat note, encouraging the little boy to believe in himself and fight for a better future. It assures him that if he keeps pushing and trying, things will eventually get better.
Overall, "Little Ghetto Boy" is a poignant song that explores the themes of resilience, perseverance, and hope. It acknowledges the hardships of life in the ghetto and encourages young people to strive for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Little ghetto boy, playing in the ghetto street
The boy is growing up in the poor streets of the ghetto.
Whatcha' gonna do when you grow up
And have to face responsibility?
As the boy grows up, he will have to face the consequences of his actions and be responsible for his life.
Will you spend your days and nights in the pool room?
Will you waste your time and life gambling, instead of trying to improve your situation?
Will you sell caps of madness to the neighborhood?
Will you resort to selling drugs to make a quick buck, even if it harms your community?
Little ghetto boy
You already know how proud life can be
'cause you've seen so much pain and misery
Despite the hardships he's faced, the boy has also seen some joys in life and knows that life can be good.
Little ghetto boy
Your daddy was blown away
He robbed that grocery store
Don't you know that was a sad, sad old day?
The boy's father died tragically and committed a crime, which shows how desperation and poverty can lead people to make terrible choices.
All your young life
You've seen such misery and pain
The world is a cruel place to live
And it ain't gonna change
The boy has seen too much suffering and realizes that the world can be a cruel place, with little hope for improvement.
You're so young
You've got so far to go on
And don't think you'll reach your goal
Young man, little ghetto boy, look at you
The boy has a long road ahead of him and may feel discouraged, but he has potential and should persevere despite the challenges ahead.
Little ghetto boy
When, when, when you become a man
You can make things change if you just take the stand
If the boy becomes a strong, responsible man, he can make a difference in his community and work towards positive change.
You gotta believe it yourself in all you do
You've gotta fight to make it better
Then you will see how others will start believing too
Then, my son, things will start to get better
The boy must believe in himself and work hard to improve his situation, and in doing so, he may inspire others to do the same, leading to a better future for all.
Everything has got to get better,
Everything has got to get better
The song emphasizes the hope and belief that things will eventually improve and encourages the boy to work towards a brighter future.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBERT F. DIGGS, COREY WOODS, EARL CEASAR DE ROUEN, EDWARD HOWARD, DARRYL ROBERT HILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mohammed GUEDOUAR
Une chanson tout en humanité, ''soulful'' à souhait. Nul besoin d' en comprendre les mots. Le ressenti est au-dela des mots pour qui a un coeur!
lcchill
I have never heard a song in my life that fits the black man more than this. The lyrics and Donny's voice literally pierce my soul more than anything I have heard in my life. He sings on the trials and tribulations so many of us go through, but at the same time he uplifts you and helps you. This song can have going crying tears of pain from hearing your story told to crying tears of joy knowing that there is hope and somebody is rooting for you, no matter how hard life has tried to convince you should be thrown away. This song stirs such a range of emotion that is simply amazing!!
mr soul
Boy you captured that so beautiful God bless you !!!
BLR Radio
Real talk, this sums up my life right here.....the silent pain that us "Little Ghetto Boys" have to go through is real when we lose our fathers to the streets, listening to this song really hit home and now this "Little Ghetto Boy" is a successful Man with my own family who I love and would let nothing happen to them.
Clara Glatthaar
@BLR Radio👍
Sophia Lefort
My Grandad was a war baby, a brown boy growing up in a white,rural village. This was his song. He passed in May and I play this everyday in his honor xx
Cristian Angel
This music is perpetual and immeasurable! 🎧🤩
Ms Mack
Rest In Power Donnie. You did your thing. You were Profoundly Blessed. We received your message..
oBazh
''Everything has got to get better'' This song gives me goosebumps.
Jerry Bell
Classic! Everything about this song is just perfect: the vocals, the arrangement, the lyrics, and it's not overly produced. Just pure and raw talent and soul.