[Verse 1]
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 movin' in the right direction
Living just enough, just enough for the city

[Verse 2]
His sister's black but she is sure not pretty
Her skirt is short, but oh, her legs are sturdy
To go 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

[Verse 3]
His father works some days for fourteen hours
And you'd best believe it, he hardly makes a dollar
His mother goes to scrub the floors for many
And you'd better believe it, she hardly gets a penny
Living just enough, just enough for the city

[Vamp]
Living just enough for the city
Living just enough for the city (I can hardly pay my bills)
Living just enough for the city (torn clothes are on my back)
Living just enough for the city (often got no place to sleep)
Living just enough for the city (hey, and no food to eat)
Living just enough for the city (they try to survive in the city)
Living just enough for the city (they try to survive in the city)
Living just enough for the city (they try to survive)
Living just enough for the city (hey, hey, in the city)
Living just enough for the city (oh, oh, yeah in this city)
Living just enough for the city (I, I, I...)
Living just enough for the city (I, I'm living)
Living just enough for the city (you don't know I'm living)
Living just enough for the city (I'm living, I'm living, I'm living)
Living just enough for the city (I'm living, I'm living, I'm living)
Living just enough for the city (I'm living, I'm living, I'm living)
Living just enough for the city (in the city, yes I am)
[Ad-lib]
Yee-ha! Yes-ah, get your hands together and help me
I've been living through the city
It sounds mighty good, yes it does
Oh, ohh! Yee-hee, wanna survive in the city
I've got to live in the city
I wanna live in the city
Mmm, yeah, oh! Oh yeah!
Help me survive in the city
Help me, help me, help me, oh!
I've got to live in the city
Hee-hee...