Soulsville
Huey Lewis & The News Lyrics

Black man, born free
The natural state of a black man is to be born free, but unfortunately, this is not always the case.

At least that's the way it's supposed to be
Society views black men as equal and free, but in reality, many are oppressed and discriminated against.

Chains that binds him are hard to see
The oppression and discrimination that black men face are not always visible, but they still exist and hold them back.

Unless you take this walk with me
To truly understand the struggles of black men, one must walk in their shoes and experience their hardships.

Place where he lives is God plenty of names
The neighborhoods where black men live are known by many names, such as slums, ghettos, and black belts.

Slums, ghetto and black belt, they are one and the same
The different names for these neighborhoods all refer to the same thing, which is a place of poverty and difficult living conditions for black men.

And I call it "Soulsville"
The singer refers to these neighborhoods as Soulsville, a name that implies a place where people's spirits are broken and their humanity is stripped away.

Any kind of job is hard to find
Job opportunities are rare in Soulsville, making it difficult for black men to earn a living and support themselves and their families.

That means an increase in the welfare line
Without job opportunities, more and more black men are forced to turn to government assistance programs like welfare to survive.

Crime rate is rising too
Desperation and poverty often lead to an increase in crime in Soulsville.

If you are hungry, what would you do?
When faced with the choice between starvation and stealing, many black men in Soulsville feel they have no choice but to resort to crime to survive.

Rent is two months past due and the building that's falling apart
Many black men in Soulsville are unable to keep up with basic expenses like rent and live in dilapidated buildings that are in disrepair.

Little boy needs a pair of shoes and this is only a part of Soulsville
Even basic necessities like shoes for children are often out of reach for families in Soulsville.

Some of the brothers' got plenty of cash
Some black men in Soulsville are able to make money through illegal means like drug dealing and prostitution.

Tricks on the corner, gonna see to that
These men use the streets and corners of Soulsville as a place to sell their wares and make money.

Some like to smoke and some like to blow
Drug addiction is a common problem in Soulsville, with some men preferring marijuana while others use harder drugs.

Some are even strung out on a fifty dollar Jones
Drug addiction is so severe for some men in Soulsville that they will spend all the money they have, even if it's only fifty dollars, on drugs.

Some are trying to ditch reality by getting so high
Drug addiction is often a way for men in Soulsville to escape their harsh reality and forget their troubles.

Only to find out you can never touch the sky
Unfortunately, this escape is temporary and the reality of their situation always comes crashing back down.

'Cause your hoods are in Soulsville, oh yeah
The difficult living conditions and lack of opportunity in Soulsville contribute to the cycle of despair and crime that many black men face.

Every Sunday morning, I can hear the old sisters say
Despite their struggles, the community in Soulsville still finds hope through faith and religion.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, trust in the Lord to make a way, oh yeah
The women pray for a better future and put their faith in God to help them overcome their hardships.

I hope that He hear their prayers 'cause deep in their souls they believe
It is the hope and belief of the community in Soulsville that God will hear their prayers and help them overcome their struggles.

Someday He'll put an end to all this misery that we have in Soulsville
Despite everything, there is still hope that things will get better and the misery and suffering of black men in Soulsville will come to an end.

Oh yeah, Soulsville, Soulsville, Soulsville, Soulsville, Soulsville
The chorus repeats the name of this neighborhood, emphasizing the repeating cycle of suffering and despair that takes place there.