[Verse 1]
You pack your bags and you move to the city
There's something missing here at home
You fix your hair and you look real pretty
It's time you're gettin' out on your own
You're always fightin' with your mama and your papa
Your family life is one big pain
When are you, you gonna move to the city
Into the city where it all began?

[Chorus]
You gotta move, you gotta move
Ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, child you gotta move

[Verse 2]
You stole your mama's car and your daddy's plastic credit card
You're sixteen and you can't get a job, you're not goin' very far
You're always fightin' with the teachers and the police
This life is much too insane
When are you, you gonna move to the city
Into the city where it all began?

[Chorus]
You gotta move, you gotta move
Ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, child you gotta move
Into the city with the real nitty gritty
Oh, child ain't it a pity
Sometimes it gets too shitty
Come on and hit me
[Guitar Solo]

[Verse 3]
You're on the streets and it ain't so pretty
At least you get to do what you please
You do what you gotta do for the money
At times, you end up on your knees
Always fightin' with the local and the junkies
This city life is one big pain
But you, you had to move to the city
Into the city where it all began

[Chorus]
You had to move, you had to move
Ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, child you had to move
Oh, into the city with the real nitty gritty
Oh, child ain't it a pity
Sometimes it gets too shitty
Come on and hit me