Living For The City
iKE Lyrics


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A boy is born in hard time Mississippi
Surrounded by four walls that ain't so pretty
His parents give him love and affection
To keep him strong moving in the right direction

Living just enough
Just enough for the city
His father works some days for fourteen hours
And you can believe he barely makes a dollar
His mother goes to scrub the floors for many
And you'd best believe she hardly gets a penny

Living just enough
Just enough for the city

His sister's black but she is sho' 'nuff pretty
Her skirt is short but Lord her legs are sturdy
To walk to school she's got to get up early
Her clothes are old but never dirty

Living just enough
Just enough for the city

Her brother's smart he's got more sense than many
His patience's long but soon he won't have any
To find a job is like a haystack needle
'Cause where he lives they don't use colored people

Living just enough
Just enough for the city





Living just enough
For the city, ooh, ooh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Living for the City by Ike & Tina Turner explore the theme of love and materialism. The first couple of lines describe a fire burning and the singer admitting that they should have been learning from it. However, they were distracted by their pockets full of money and the presence of a significant other, whom they lovingly referred to as honey. The chorus states that love is what makes a woman, emphasizing that material possessions like diamonds and pearls are not enough to fill the void that love can. It is almost as if the singer has come to the realization that they had been living for money and possessions and neglecting the importance of love.


The second verse reveals that the singer knew deep down that their previous relationship would not last, but they had to learn the hard way. They had to swallow their pride and admit to themselves that love is what they really needed. The verse ends with the singer feeling better, dressed in love. The song emphasizes that love may not provide material wealth or fame, but it is the only thing that can truly fill a person's heart and soul.


Overall, the lyrics of Living for the City convey a message about the importance of love and its ability to fulfill a person's life. The song caution against chasing after material possessions and worldly pleasures at the expense of true and meaningful connections with others. It is a universal message that resonates with people of all ages and backgrounds.


Line by Line Meaning

In the fire
Amidst difficult times


It was burning
The situation was intense


Sweetheart, I know
Addressing a loved one


I should have been learning
I should have been improving myself


But my pockets
Despite having wealth


Full of money, yes they were
My pockets were overflowing with riches


I had someone, yes I did
I had a romantic partner


To call my honey
To refer to my lover affectionately


But it's love (ooh, sweet love)
Love is the most important thing


That makes a woman (ooh, that makes a woman)
It's what defines and completes a woman


Something told me that this wouldn't last
Intuition signaled the relationship's impermanence


Now my heartache is in the past
My emotional pain is now over


I had to swallow all of my pride
I had to let go of my ego and humility


And admit to myself deep down inside
I accepted the truth within my heart


Diamonds and pearls
Material possessions


Don't you know that I've had enough
I am no longer interested in material things


But I feel so much better, yes I do
I feel happier than ever


Dressed in love
I am now adorned in love


What she is, yeah
Referring to a woman's identity or essence


And it's love (ooh, sweet love)
Emphasizing the importance of love


That makes a woman yes it is (ooh, that makes a woman)
Love is what defines a woman


What she is, yeah
Reiterating that a woman's identity is crucial


And it's love (ooh, sweet love)
Stressing again how love is the most essential thing


That makes a woman yeah (ooh, that makes a woman)
Love completes and defines a woman




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stevie Wonder

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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