[Verse 1]
Listen up, turn your box up, gather all around
This one's strictly for the ghetto (yup)
Some of y'all recognize, some of y'all won't
Better pay attention and listen close

There was an old lady who lived in my hood
That sold freeze pops for a quarter
Had so many kids that I lost count
More sons than she had daughters

And every night before they would fall asleep
They'd pray for shelter and food to eat
But the landlord huffed and blew the house down
Now they out on the streets

[Pre-Chorus 1]
And now she cleans, she mops
The tears they drop
The only sound that drowns it out comes from my music box

[Chorus]
So just let the music play (play)
No, don't let it stop (no)
No, it ain't easy growing up in the hood, but I got my music box
When the sirens sound (wind it up)
Or the shots ring out (just wind it up)
Had trouble in the hood, but I'm onto the good
Cause I got my music box
[Verse 2]
There was an old man (he lived in the hood)
Had rubber bands, dimes, and quarters (worth a block)
Put him away, left his wife and kids

It affects his teenage daughter (daughter)
Can't shake the reflection
Starved to perfection
I've seen it all before (before)
Now she ignores the advice of a kid folk
Tell her stay home
But she creeping out the back door

[Pre-Chorus 2]
And now she pays the cost, young girl
So lost
I feel your pain
Try to maintain
Wind up your music box

[Chorus]
So just let the music play (play)
No, don't let it stop (no)
No, it ain't easy growing up in the hood
But I got my music box
When the sirens sound (wind it up)
Or the shots ring out (just wind it up)
Had trouble in the hood, but I'm onto the good
Cause I got my music box

[Break]
Da-da-da, da-da-da, da-da-da, da-da-da, da-da-da, ah

[Bridge]
This hood situation's got me sick
Call the doctor quick, quick, quick
Doctor, doctor
Will I die?
(Na na, young blood, just let the song play)

[Chorus]
So just let the music play (play)
No, don't let it stop (no)
No, it ain't easy growing up in the hood
But I got my music box

When the sirens sound (wind it up)
Or the shots ring out (just wind it up)
Had trouble in the hood, but I'm onto the good
Cause I got my music box
[Outro]
Da-da-da, da-da-da, da-da-da, da-da-da, da-da-da, ah
Cause I got my music box
Da-da-da, da-da-da, da-da-da, da-da-da, da-da-da, ah
My music box