Down In The Ghetto

[Intro]
An' Jah say, blessed is the meek
For, they shall inherit di earth
An' I an' I must get I an' I's words
Mi a show dem I'm the star (High)

[Verse 1]
Say, Carol born, Lord-our-God, in a di ghetto
In a di western part of Kingston
A Jubilee, also known as di Linin
Dat a not street, Lord-our-God, I beg your pardon
In front of dis was the Kingston public
Around di corner you find di chest clinic
From mi was a youth, dem a fight sake of politics
Red seam an' blue seam a walk with nightstick
But nowadays dem a buss automatic (Lord!)

[Chorus]
Down in a di ghetto (Ra-bi-bi-bit)
Down in a di ghetto (Tell dem, star!)
Down in a di ghetto

[Verse 2]
I used to attend St. Anne's Primary
Where dem talk mouth, shack out, holy mary
Never mention nothin' 'bout Marcus Garvey
Neither di king call Haile Selassie
Tell mi pure night 'bout Columbus discovery

[Chorus]
Jah, mi say, down in a di ghetto
Jah, mi say, down in a di ghetto (Which part, star?)
Said, place in a di ghetto (Hey!)

[Verse 3]
Mi used to live at Barnes street an' Perseus street
Say, Albert street an' Regent street
Say, Dumfries street an' down a Pink Lane
Mi love fi mi village, Kingston Fourteen, it name

[Chorus]
Down in a di ghetto
Mi say, mi grow in a di ghetto
Mi grow in a di ghetto (Right!)
Said, place in a di ghetto

[Verse 4]
In the days gone by when mi used to shy
Every youth did a hungry, you could hear some a cry
Say, quatty an' farthing nuff tings could buy
Mi knee did red with mi mother floor dye

[Chorus]
Say, down in a di ghetto (Tell you 'bout it!)
Down in a di ghetto (Which part, star?)
Say, down in a di ghetto
Say, down in a di ghetto

[Verse 5]
Say, ghetto people, if you irie, let mi know
Say, ghetto people, if you irie, let mi know
For, Carol born, Lord-our-God, in a di ghetto
In a di western part of Kingston
A Jubilee, also known as di Linin
Dat a not street, Lord-our-God, I beg your pardon
In front of dis was the Kingston public
Around di corner you find di chest clinic
From mi was a youth, dem a fight sake of politics
Red seam an' blue seam a walk with nightstick
But nowadays dem a buss automatic (Lord!)

[Chorus]
Down in a di ghetto (Tell dem!)
Down in a di ghetto
Say, down in a di ghetto

[Bridge]
When mi born in a di ghetto, grow in a di ghetto
Christened in di ghetto, schooled in a di ghetto
Live in a di ghetto (Lord have mercy)
Ribbit in di ghetto (Hey!)

[Chorus]
Down in a di ghetto (Say, hear me, star)
Down in a di ghetto

[Verse 6]
But dis one ting Carol cyaant understand
Why dem underrate di ghetto woman?
Then mi have education an' ambition
Lord-our-God, mi is a deejay woman

[Chorus]
Down in a di ghetto (Lord have mercy)
Down in a di ghetto

[Verse 7]
While some a worship [?]
You should-a only honor your mommy an' daddy
An' if dem no love you, Lord, don't you worry
You're not obligated to anybody
But the Lord an' savior, God almighty
Who will strike all di wicked man a with [?]
Ghetto people, dem were inequity
I tell you, Sister Carol are di deejay mommy
Mi now sip Coke an' that's why mi so irie

[Chorus]
Down in a di ghetto (Which part, star?)
Down in a di ghetto

[Outro]
Where some rich, some poor, some never have a door
A when mi talk, dem say dem want more
Lord-our-God, Sister Carol for sure
Down in a di ghetto
Down in a di ghetto