Little Ghetto Boy
Composer(s): Edward Howard - Earl DeRouen
First release by: Donny Hathaway - 1972
Covered by multiple other artists



Little ghetto boy, playing in the ghetto street 
Whatcha' gonna do when you grow up 
and have to face responsiblity? 
Will you spend your days and nights in the pool room? 
Will you sell caps of madness to the neighborhood? 
Little ghetto boy 
You already know how proud life can be 
'cause you've seen so much pain and misery 

Little ghetto boy 
Your daddy was blown away 
He robbed that grocery store 
Don't you know that was a sad, sad old day? 
All your young life 
You've seen such misery and pain 
The world is a cruel place to live 
and it ain't gonna change 
You're so young 
You've got so far to go on 
and don't think you'll reach your goal 
Young man, little ghetto boy, look at you 

Little ghetto boy 
When, when, when you become a man 
you can make things change if you just take the stand 
You gotta believe it yourself in all you do 
You've gotta fight to make it better 
then you will see how others will start believing to 
Then, my son, things will start to get better 

Everything has got to get better  
Everything has got to get better ...