I was born and raised in a ghetto I was born and raised in a ghetto I'm the woman of the ghetto Listen to me legislator
(Ging, gi-gi-gi-gi-ging)
How do you raise your kids in the ghetto How do you raise your kids in the ghetto Feed one child and starve another Tell me, tell me legislator
(Ging, gi-gi-gi-gi-ging)
Now how do you make your bread in the ghetto How do you make your bread in the ghetto Baked from the souls of the dead in the ghetto Tell me, tell me legislator
(Ging, gi-gi-gi-gi-ging)
Brave, free Black, me I am the woman of the ghetto Strong, true My eyes ain't blue I am the woman of the ghetto
(Ging, gi-gi-gi-gi-ging)
How do we get rid of rats in the ghetto How do we get rid of rats in the ghetto Do we make one black and one white in the ghetto Is that your answer legislator
Now how do you legislate brother Listen to me How do you legislate brother When you free one man and try to chain up the other Hell me, tell me legislator
How does your heart feel late at night How does your heart feel late at night Does it beat with shame Does it beat with fright Won't you tell me, tell me legislator
Brave, free Black, me I am the woman of the ghetto Strong, true My eyes ain't blue Listen to me legislator
My children learned just the same as yours As long as nobody tries to close the doors They cry with pain when the knife cuts deep They close their eyes when they wanna sleep
We must all have identity (Whoo) That's the only way that we can be free Now peace you say Is all that you ask But self-respect is our separate task
You sitting up there In your ivory tower 60 stories tall Now you may have seen one ghetto But have you lived there at all
Places like Watts (tell me) Detroit (tell me) Filmore (tell me) Chicago (tell me) Harlem (tell me) Washington (tell me)
Sing our voices (tell me) Sing our voices (tell me) Sing our voices of the ghetto Sing our voices of the ghetto Sing our voices, sing our voices 'Cause I am the woman of the ghetto
