Artist: Joe
Album: Better Days
Title: Ghetto Child


Feat. shaggy

{all the ghettos around the world}
{dig this}
{ghetto fabulous joe}
{shaggy}
All the children sing {uh}

I'm a ghetto child
I'm a ghetto child (check it, out)

There's a world out there that i wanna see
There's a man that i'm destined to be
I won't be stopped by the ghetto streets
I believe inside that i can't be beat

This life could be a ball and chain
If you let yourself get caught in the game
I had some friends who sold drugs for dough
But i don't intend to go down that road

Just because i'm a ghetto child
I won't live down to your expectations (no, no)
Just believe that a ghetto child
Can rise in the highest celebration (oh)
Know that i am a ghetto child
But i can see the best in me, can you
I'm a ghetto child

All the ghettos around the world, dig this

One day i'm gonna change the world
Make a better place for every boy and girl
Everyone in need, homeless families
Have a place to sleep and food to eat

I'll take every gun off the streets
So another tear won't be shed in grief
And every thug in every hood
I will make 'em change from bad to good

I believe that it can be done
Gotta start somewhere and i'm that one
All the children sing (yeah, yeah)
All the children sing (yeah, yeah)

Just because i'm a ghetto child
I won't live down to your expectations
Just believe that a ghetto child
Can rise in the highest celebration
Know that i am a ghetto child
But i can see the best in me, can you
I'm a ghetto child (ooh, yeah, ooh)

{hey, yo', look at me inna different light}
{spare me all about those stereotypes}
Ain't no madness that'll bring me down
Gonna take this life and turn it around

{now see, the sky's the limit, i won't be denied}
{ain't no stoppin' me, i'm a ghetto child}
And at the end when it's said and done
We will all be singin' this ghetto song

I believe that it can be done (yeah, oh)
Gotta start somewhere and i'm that one
All the children sing (yeah, yeah)
All the children sing (yeah, yeah)

Just because i'm a ghetto child
I won't live down to your expectations
Just believe that a ghetto child
Can rise in the highest celebration (oh...oh...oh...)
Know that i am a ghetto child
But i can see the best in me, can you
I'm a ghetto child (let's go to church now)

Just because i'm a ghetto child (uh)
I won't live down to your expectations (take me to
Church now)
Just believe that a ghetto child (ooh)
Can rise in the highest celebration (hey, hey)
Know that i am a ghetto child (ooh, yeah)
But i can see the best in me, can you
I'm a ghetto child (hey, ghetto child,
Whoa...oh...ooh...)

Just because i'm a ghetto child
I won't live down to your expectations (sing a song
For me)
Just believe that a ghetto child (sing a song for me)
Can rise in the highest celebration (everybody sing it
Now, yeah)
Know that i am a ghetto child
But i can see (ooh, yeah) the best in me, can you (oh)
I'm a ghetto child (so i can see the best in me, can
You)

It's not where you're from, it's where you're gonna be
(hey)
It's not where you're from, it's where you're gonna be
~~~~~

The more I hear this song... the more I wonder...

Am I a Ghetto Child... I mean, really? <--- it is really not funny...
~Smile.

I have never really liked the term 'Ghetto', although most of my family does infact live that lifestyle. Drugs, murder, constant violence/abuse, living off the streets... prison time. My mother lived this life...still does, my oldest sister and another sister...live this life, have done major time for selling millions of dollars of uncut cocaine. My oldest sister was involved with a man who murdered a doctor just a couple of years ago. My biological father was an inmate for most of his life... I met him in prison for the first time when I was 15 years old. I go down the list...

... it's endless... and still lives...

...

Am I a ghetto child... gone right? MG! If you only knew...

you're a valuable person no matter where you come from

i love you.

Great song & album....

Freespirit said:

Staying with a musical theme, your revelation (and the you love to use) reminded me of this song.
Substitute the word Welfare for Ghetto and hopefully what I was going for will come through to you.

Welfare Flower Child
Jean-Paul Bourelly

(spoken)
Yeah kid, uh huh.
Hopin' again that there will be some money for some babies
I hope that she can make it out in style...Flower Child

(verse)
Welcome Flower Child
Movin' through the projects in your own unique style. (She got a style)
All the neighbors just have to stop and stare
As they try to figure out your ubiquitousness, your uniqueness, you sprinkle it everywhere.

(chorus) 2X
Maybe there's a maybe
Maybe there's a chance that there will be some money for the baby
Maybe she could make it out in style
Instead of bein' a Welfare Flower Child


(verse)
Movin' with the ease of a sunny Afro ocean breeze
Makin' no hesitations or apologies
Livin' in a world but not a world of poverty
I've often wondered how you thrive, it's always been amazing to me

Welfare Flower Child
Always got some new ideas
Innovating full above the stratosphere
Welfare baby blue something seems to bother you
Ya got sunshine liberation through your veins
A genius girl with an average name
(chorus) 2X

(bridge)
All night I cried
And longed to hear your voice, feel your touch just one more time
To hear you share another bright idea or vibe
Oh Flower Child, what i'd give for you to give me a sign

So sad when I heard they cut you down
Caught in the middle of a project play
But forgiving is a gang banger
For pride or rage

(whispered)
Shoulda made it out
Shoulda made it out


Maybe there's a maybe
Maybe there's a chance that there will be some money for the baby
Maybe she could make it out in style
Instead of bein' a Welfare Flower Child
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Now unlike the sad demise of the song's heroine, it appears that you've made it safely to the other side with your big in tact.


p.s. I think i've transcribed the lyrics with about 95% accuracy.
Some of them were difficult to decipher.



tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

I'm sure you know who you truly are Julie, even if i can understand all your questions. It reminds me such difficult times back in the days regarding some very personnals life's choices and orientations...My addiction to cocaine, my choice to move into porn business, my all family's attitude and their turn their back on me...But i'm here today, stronger than ever and proud of my life. As you should be regarding of the wonderful Madame you are...

Luv

Spelling edit
[Edited 10/25/05 15:39pm]

Thanks to you four for responding...

It's not a mid-life crisis or anything... ~Smile.

Just a different take to what I have known for years to be highly dysfunctional.

"Ghetto Child" just brought attention to a different term I had never associated personally to my life.

It has a lot to do with choice and being aware enough to live different than what you see and know. Also... what can be and will be if you make the choice of living a healthier life, at all costs.

I have definitely worked hard, personally... to be where I am today.

But keep this in mind.....no matter who you are and where you come from....you can do anything.

Nas - I know I can


I know I can (I know I can)
Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)
I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)


Be, B-Boys and girls, listen up
You can be anything in the world, in God we trust
An architect, doctor, maybe an actress
But nothing comes easy it takes much practice
Like, I met a woman who's becoming a star
She was very beautiful, leaving people in awe
Singing songs, Lina Horn, but the younger version
Hung with the wrong person
Got her strung on that
Heroin, cocaine, sniffin up drugs all in her nose...
Coulda died, so young, now looks ugly and old
No fun cause now when she reaches for hugs people hold they breath
Cause she smells of corrosion and death
Watch the company you keep and the crowd you bring
Cause they came to do drugs and you came to sing
So if you gonna be the best, I'ma tell you how,
Put your hands in the air, and take a vow

I know I can (I know I can)
Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)
I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)


Be, B-Boys and girls, listen again
This is for grown looking girls who's only ten
The ones who watch videos and do what they see
As cute as can be, up in the club with fake ID
Careful, 'fore you meet a man with HIV
You can host the TV like Oprah Winfrey
Whatever you decide, be careful, some men be
Rapists, so act your age, don't pretend to be
Older than you are, give yourself time to grow
You thinking he can give you wealth, but so
Young boys, you can use a lot of help, you know
You thinkin life's all about smokin weed and ice
You don't wanna be my age and can't read and write
Begging different women for a place to sleep at night
Smart boys turn to men and do whatever they wish
If you believe you can achieve, then say it like this


Be, be, 'fore we came to this country
We were kings and queens, never porch monkeys
There was empires in Africa called Kush
Timbuktu, where every race came to get books
To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans
Asian Arabs and gave them gold when
Gold was converted to money it all changed
Money then became empowerment for Europeans
The Persian military invaded
They heard about the gold, the teachings, and everything sacred
Africa was almost robbed naked
Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships
Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went
He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces
Shot up they nose to impose what basically
Still goes on today, you see?
If the truth is told, the youth can grow
Then learn to survive until they gain control
Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes
Read more learn more, change the globe
Ghetto children, do your thing
Hold your head up, little man, you're a king
Young Princess when you get your wedding ring
Your man is saying "She's my queen"