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 bet
He barely makes a dollar
His mother goes to
Scrub the floors for many
And you better believe
She hardly gets a penny
Living just enough
Just enough for the city
His sister's black but
She is sure nuff pretty
Her skirt is short but
Lord, her legs are sturdy
Just to walk to school
She got to get up early
Her clothes are old
But never are they dirty
Living just enough
Just enough for the city
Wait a minute
Y'all listen here
Her brother's smart
He's got more sense than many
His patience long but
Soon he won't have any
Just 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
Ya'll hear me
I'm living just enough for the city
I'm living just enough for the city
(Oh, yes, I am)
I'm living just enough for the city
(I can't help myself)
I'm living just enough for the city
(Yes, I am)
I'm living just enough for the city
(I'm so tired of living for the city)
I'm living just enough for the city
I'm living just enough for the city
(Somebody help me here)
I'm living just enough for the city
(Well, I'm so tired every day)
I'm living just enough for the city
(Of my life, trying to make ends meet)
I'm living just enough for the city
I'm living just enough for the city
I'm living just enough
(Come on now) for the city
I'm living
Lord, what am I doing here
With all this pain and suffering
And misery, with all the rape
And the drugs and the
Murder in the streets
And the rats and the roaches
Crawling all over everything
And I can't find a job nowhere
My electricity has been turned off
My gas don't burn no more
And the water has stopped flowing
And my poor family is cold and hungry
Oh, Lord, why has thou forsaken me
His hair is long
His feet are hard and gritty
He spends his life walking
The streets of New York City
He's almost dead
From breathing in air pollution
He tried to vote but to him
There's no solution
Living just enough, Lord
Just enough for the city
Well, all right I hope you hear
Inside my voice of sorrow
And that it motivates you
To make a better tomorrow
This place is cruel
Nowhere could be much colder
If we don't change
The world will soon be over
Living just enough
Stop giving just enough for the city
I'm living just enough for the city
I'm living just enough for the city
I'm living just enough for the city
Living For The City Lyrics performed by Ray Charles are property and copyright of the authors, artists and labels. You should note that Living For The City Lyrics performed by Ray Charles is only provided for educational purposes only and if you like the song you should buy the CD