As the snow flies
On a cold and gray chicago morn
A poor little baby child is born

In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
And his mama cries


'cause if there's one thing
That she don't need
It's another little

Hungry mouth to feed
In the ghetto (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
Or 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 (in the ghetto)
And his hunger burns


So he starts to
Roam the street at night
He learns how to steal

And he learns how to fight
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)


And 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 in the street

With a gun in his hand
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)


And as her young man dies
On a cold and grey chicago morn
Another little baby child is born

In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
And his mama cries (in the ghetto)