A boy is born in Hardtime Mississippi    Surrounded by four walls that ain't so pretty    His parents give him love and affection    To keep him strong, movin' in the right direction    Living just enough, just enough for the city, Yeah       His father works some days for fourteen hours    And you can bet 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 are they 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 coloured people    Living just enough, just enough for the city    Living just enough for the city