Brooklyn singer, Will Downing, was born in 1963 and appeared on the scenes … Read Full Bio ↴Brooklyn singer, Will Downing, was born in 1963 and appeared on the scenes in the early 1980s. Singing with Arthur Baker's group, Wally Jump Junior, Downing then used Baker as a producer when he was signed to Island Records. Before releasing his own album, Will Downing appeared on tracks with many other artists, including Daryl Payne, Marc Sadane, Warp 9 and Jennifer Holiday.

In 1988, Downing finally made his solo debut, releasing the self-titled Will Downing. The album featured a new version of John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme." The track did not fair well on the R&B charts but it managed to reach #4 on the Dance charts. In the United Kingdom, "A Love Supreme" managed to reach #14 on the singles charts.

Downing has released many albums throughout his career, always on the brink of stardom but never quite making it. In 1989 he released Come Together As One and in '91, Dream Fulfilled. The latter featured the single "I Try" which reached #13 on the R&B charts, Downing's best performance to date.

1993 saw Downing's fourth album release with Love's the Place to Be. In 1995, he released Moods and in 1997, Invitation Only. Continuing his steady stream of releases, 1998 saw Pleasures of the Night, 2000 offered All the Man You Need and in 2002, Sensual Journey.

With so many albums under his belt, Downing never slows down, releasing Emotions in 2003, Christmas, Love and You in 2004 and Soul Symphony in 2005.

While Will Downing has never been a massive celebrity in the United States, he has seen reasonable success in the United Kingdom.

World Is a Ghetto
Will Downing Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Walkin' down the street, smoggy-eyed
Looking at the sky, starry-eyed
Searchin' for the place, weary-eyed
Crying in the night, teary-eyed

Don't you know that it's true
That for me and for you the world is a ghetto
Don't you know that it's true

That for me and for you the world is a ghetto

Wonder when I'll find paradise
Somewhere there's a home sweet and nice
Wonder if I'll find happiness
Never give it up now I guess

Don't you know that it's true
That for me and for you the world is a ghetto
Don't you know that it's true
That for me and for you the world is a ghetto

There's no need to search anywhere
Happiness is here, have your share
If you know you're loved, be secure
Paradise is love to be sure

Don't you know that it's true
That for me and for you the world is a ghetto
Don't you know that it's true
That for me and for you the world is a ghetto

Don't you know that it's true
That for me and for you the world is a ghetto
Don't you know that it's true
That for me and for you the world is a ghetto

The world is a ghetto, the world is a ghetto
The world is a ghetto, the world is a ghetto
The world is a ghetto, the world is a ghetto
The world is a ghetto, the world is a ghetto
The world is a ghetto, the world is a ghetto

The world is a ghetto, the world is a ghetto
The world is a ghetto, the world is a ghetto
The world is a ghetto, the world is a ghetto
The world is a ghetto, the world is a ghetto

The world is a ghetto, the world is a ghetto
The world is a ghetto

Overall Meaning

In Will Downing's song "The World Is A Ghetto," the lyrics describe a person walking down the street feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of life. The smoggy-eyed individual looks up at the stars trying to find hope and direction, but the cruel society makes them teary-eyed and weary-eyed. Even though the person is searching and hoping for a paradise or a place to call home, they seem to feel lost and unable to find happiness.

However, the song's chorus reveals that the world is a ghetto for everyone, including the person singing the song. The lyrics repeatedly remind us that we all share this world and its troubles, and one cannot find happiness by looking elsewhere. The solution to all the problems of oppression and injustice lies in understanding that everybody deserves to be loved, secure and cherished. The final message is powerful and meaningful, proclaiming that love is the key to paradise beyond this world's ghetto.

Line by Line Meaning

Walkin' down the street, smoggy-eyed
Walking down a polluted street with eyes full of despair

Looking at the sky, starry-eyed
Gazing up at the sky with hope

Searchin' for the place, weary-eyed
Tired eyes searching for somewhere they belong

Crying in the night, teary-eyed
Crying to sleep at night with eyes full of tears

Don't you know that it's true That for me and for you the world is a ghetto Don't you know that it's true That for me and for you the world is a ghetto
The truth is, the world is a ghetto for everyone

Wonder when I'll find paradise Somewhere there's a home sweet and nice Wonder if I'll find happiness Never give it up now I guess
Questioning when and if paradise and happiness will be found, but not giving up hope

There's no need to search anywhere Happiness is here, have your share If you know you're loved, be secure Paradise is love to be sure
Realizing that happiness is not found externally, but rather within oneself and through love

The world is a ghetto, the world is a ghetto The world is a ghetto, the world is a ghetto The world is a ghetto, the world is a ghetto The world is a ghetto, the world is a ghetto The world is a ghetto, the world is a ghetto The world is a ghetto
Repeating that the world is a harsh and unfair place, no matter who you are

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Charles Miller, Harold Brown, Howard Scott, Jerome Washington, LeRoy Jordan, Mark Green, Morris Dickerson, Terry Gray, Thomas Allen, Lee Levitin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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