In the Ghetto
In the Ghetto: A Tale of Struggle and Redemption
Lyrics
What you gonna do down in the ghetto boy?
Poses a question about actions in the ghetto.
Here we go, here we here we go (Hey)
Repetitive phrase, possibly expressing anticipation or readiness.
Here we go, here we here we go
-As the snow flies
Setting the scene with snow in Chicago.
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
Describes the birth of a child in impoverished conditions.
A poor little baby child is born
-In the ghetto (In the ghetto, hey, ho)
Highlights the ghetto as the context of the child's birth.
And his mama cries
Mother's reaction to the challenging circumstances.
'Cause if there's one thing that she don't need
Mother's concern about the struggle of feeding another mouth.
It's another hungry mouth to feed
-In the ghetto (In the ghetto, hey, ho)
Reiterates the challenging ghetto environment.
People, don't you understand
Call for understanding and assistance for the child.
The child needs a helping hand
-Or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day (Here we go, here we here we go)
Warns about the potential consequences of neglect.
Take a look at you and me
Reflects on societal blindness and indifference.
Are we too blind to see,
-Do we simply turn our heads
-And look the other way
-Well the world turns (And the world turns, and the world turns)
Acknowledges the continuity of the world's turning.
And a hungry little boy with a runny nose
Depicts a hungry child playing in harsh conditions.
Plays in the street as the cold wind blows
-In the ghetto (In the ghetto, hey, ho)
Reiterates the ghetto as the challenging environment.
And his hunger burns (And his hunger burns, burns, burns)
Expresses the intensity of the child's hunger.
So he starts to roam the streets at night
Describes the child's descent into crime and violence.
And he learns how to steal
-And he learns how to fight in the ghetto (In the ghetto, hey, ho)
-Then one night in desperation
Narrates the young man's desperate actions leading to a tragic outcome.
A young man breaks away
-He buys a gun, steals a car
-Tries to run, but he don't get far
-And his mama cries (Oh how she cries)
Mother's grief over her son's choices.
As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man
Describes a crowd witnessing a tragic event in the ghetto.
Face down on the street with a gun in his hand
-In the ghetto (In the ghetto, hey, ho)
Reiterates the harsh reality of life in the ghetto.
As her young man dies
Depicts the death of the young man.
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
Shifts to another child being born in the same difficult conditions.
Another little baby child is born
-In the ghetto (In the ghetto, hey, ho)
Reiterates the challenging circumstances of the ghetto.
And his mama cries
Mother's emotional response to the ongoing struggles.
What you gonna do down in the ghetto boy?
Repeats the initial question about actions in the ghetto.
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