[Verse 1: Damon Harris and Otis Williams]

Money, I ain't got none

(Where I was born, everything was dull and dingy)

Job, can't find one

I lived in a place they called the inner city

The streets raised me from a baby

(Getting ahead, huh, was strictly a no-no

'Cause nobody cares what happens to folks that live in the ghetto)

[Verse 2: Richard Street and Damon Harris]

Thousand of lives wasting away

People living from day to day

This is a challenge just staying alive

'Cause in the ghetto, only the strong survives

[Verse 2: Damon Harris and Melvin Franklin]

Broken down homes, kids strung out

They don't even know what life's all about

Stealin' cars, robbin' bars

Muggin', drugs, rat-infested and no one's interested

[Verse 3: Richard Street and Damon Harris]

Kids dodgin' cars for recreation

Only adds to a mother's frustration

Break-ins, folks comin' home and findin' all their possessions gone

Oh ho

[Outro: Dennis Edwards]

It's an every day thing - well well - in the ghetto

It's an every day thing in the ghetto