As the snow flies on a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
A poor little baby child is born in the ghetto
And his mama cries 'cause if there's one thing that she don't need
It's another hungry mouth to feed in the ghetto
People, don't you understand the child needs a helping hand?
Or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day
Take a look at you and me, are we too blind to see?
Do we simply turn our heads and look the other way?
Well the world turns and a hungry little boy with a runny nose
Plays in the street as the cold wind blows in the ghetto
And his hunger burns, so he starts to roam the streets at night
And he learns how to steal and he learns how to fight in the ghetto
Then one night in desperation 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
As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man
Face down on the street with a gun in his hand in the ghetto
As her young man dies on a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
Another little baby child is born in the ghetto
And his mama cries
simple, beautiful and very touching lyrics portraying the life of people with little choice and hope.... willing to take a chance for freedom.