In The Ghetto
Lisa Marie and Elvis Presley Lyrics
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On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
A poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto (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
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 (in the ghetto)
And his hunger burns
So he starts to roam the streets at night
And he learns how to steal, and he learns how to fight
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
Then one night in desperation
The 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 (in the ghetto)
And as her young man dies (in the ghetto)
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
Another little baby child is born
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
And his mama cries (in the ghetto)
(In the ghetto)
(Ah)
These lyrics are telling a story of poverty and desperation in a Chicago ghetto. The first verse sets the scene with the birth of a baby boy. The baby is born into a situation of great need, with a mother who is already struggling to provide for herself and any children she may have. The second verse is a call to action, imploring the listener to recognize that this child, and others like him, need help. If they do not receive it, they may grow up to become angry and violent individuals, driven to crime by their circumstances.
The third verse describes the young boy's life as he grows up in the ghetto, learning to survive on the streets where hunger and violence are commonplace. The lyrics highlight the cyclical nature of poverty and violence, as the boy's hunger leads him to learn how to steal and fight. The fourth and final verse shows the tragic end to this story, as the young man tries to break away from his circumstances, but ultimately fails. He dies on a cold, gray morning, leaving behind yet another baby born into the same cycle of poverty and violence.
This song is a powerful commentary on the systemic issues of poverty and violence that plague many communities to this day. It serves as a reminder that there are many people who, like the boy in the song, are trapped in cycles of need and who desperately need help from those who have the means to give it.
Line by Line Meaning
As the snow flies
It's a cold winter day in Chicago
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
The environment is not welcoming and appears lifeless
A poor little baby child is born
Someone inexperienced is welcomed to the world.
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
The baby is from an impoverished area and this shall define the circumstances of its birth and upbringing
And his mama cries
The mother is saddened by having to give birth in such dire conditions.
'Cause if there's one thing that she don't need
Her financial struggles make it difficult for her to provide for the new baby
It's another hungry mouth to feed
Having another child to care for is challenging considering the scarce resources
People, don't you understand
The author questions if others can empathize with the struggling family.
The child needs a helping hand
The baby requires external assistance and support.
Or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day?
The hardships the child will face from an early age may result in behavioral complications later in life.
Take a look at you and me
The author recommends that people assess themselves and their actions towards others.
Are we too blind to see?
The author wonders whether people choose not to acknowledge or choose to ignore situations where people face hardships.
Do we simply turn our heads and look the other way?
People may choose to ignore other people's struggles
Well, the world turns
Life goes on amidst these struggles
And a hungry little boy with a runny nose
A young boy living in poverty who is sick and believes stealing is the only way to survive was mentioned.
Plays in the street as the cold wind blows
Although he is aware of his challenges, he displays childlike behaviors which may posit an unsaid notion, letting children enjoy their early years
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
The impoverished environment is still relevant and marked as a background effect with struggles that provide impossible solutions
And his hunger burns
The boy's hunger becomes more intense as he continues to live in poverty.
So he starts to roam the streets at night
As a direct result of his hunger, the boy begins to resort to dangerous activities.
And he learns how to steal, and he learns how to fight
In an attempt to assist with his starvation, the boy adapts as a criminal quickly, engaging in activities he would not have otherwise considered.
Then one night in desperation
The boy gets caught up in a situation that he cannot get out of.
The young man breaks away
The boy takes a drastic course of action, probably as a last resort
He buys a gun, steals a car
He decides to acquire things illegally in radical attempts to alleviate his hunger and secure his own and his mother's safety
Tries to run, but he don't get far
The unfortunate boy is attempting to escape his past and struggles sustainably but seemingly cannot break free
And his mama cries
The young man's mother is distressed over the fact that her son's life ended in desperation.
As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man
The reaction of the crowd is based on assumptions about the boy's past actions.
Face down on the street with a gun in his hand
The young man has been brought to the ground by the consequences of his choices
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
The surroundings still shape the course of the boy's life and circumstances
And as her young man dies (in the ghetto)
The tragedy of the boy's death would remain with his mother and her family forever.
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
the start of another day in the same cold, grimy city of Chicago
Another little baby child is born
Yet another baby is born in poverty, to face the similar harsh realities as its predecessors
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
The impoverished community's infamous struggles.
And his mama cries (in the ghetto)
The new mother is likely to endure the same trials and tribulations as earlier mothers in the community.
(In the ghetto)
Repeated to emphasize the message that poverty begets poverty and misfortune leads to misfortune.
(Ah)
An exclamation denoting the depth of the misery portrayed.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mac Davis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind