Featured In
Similar Songs
Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Rick James
Vocals
Jeannette Dubois
Background Vocals
Lawrence Hilton-jacobs
Background Vocals
Mary Jane Girls
Background Vocals
Dennis Edwards
Background Vocals
Melvin Franklin
Background Vocals
Richard Street
Background Vocals
Otis Williams
Background Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Rick James
Arranger
Daniel Lemelle
Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Rick James
Producer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
When I was a young boy
Growin' up in the ghetto
Hanging out on corners
Singin' with the fellas
Lookin' for the cute chicks
Tryin' to find the big fun
Looking for some trouble
From anyone who'd give me some
[PreChorus]
I was young and crazy (In the ghetto)
Didn't know what my life would be (In the ghetto)
I was dumb and oh, so lazy (In the ghetto)
Something had a spell on me (In the ghetto)
[Chorus]
You all know what I'm talkin' 'bout? (Talkin' 'bout ghetto life)
Ghetto life
You all know what I'm singing 'bout (Talkin' 'bout ghetto life)
Ghetto life
[Verse 2]
When I was a young man
Kind of free and fancy
Met this little cute girl
She said her name was Nancy
She had pigtails to her shoulders
She couldn't have been much older
She taught me what I had to know
To make a girl not wanna go
[PreChorus]
She was young and kinky (In the ghetto)
She laid her pigtails down on me (In the ghetto)
And I was young and oh, so sneaky (In the ghetto)
I had to see what love could be (In the ghetto)
[Bridge]
Listen up
I knew it all along
That my game was strong
But I was wrong that time
I knew I had to play
And get myself away
Didn't you think I was man enough? (Yeah)
Didn't you think I was smart enough? (Yeah)
Didn't you think I was strong enough? (Yeah)
Didn't you think that I want to get out? (Of the ghetto life)
[Bridge]
Sing it till you feel it, baby, sing, ghetto life (Talkin' 'bout ghetto life)
You got to get on over, ghetto life (Talkin' 'bout ghetto life)
[Verse 3]
When I was a young boy
Tenement slums and corner bums
Playing tag with winos
The only way to have some fun
One thing 'bout the ghetto
You don't have to hurry
It'll be there tomorrow
So, brother, don't you worry
[Chorus]
Ghetto life (Talkin' 'bout ghetto life)
Talkin' 'bout ghetto li-i-i-ife
Ghetto life, baby (Talkin' 'bout ghetto life, life, life)
Ghetto life (Talkin' 'bout ghetto life)
La-la-la-la-life
People, we've got to get over
Talkin' 'bout the life (In the ghetto, life)
[Outro]
Where's the place to funk?
Ghetto Land, that's the place where we funk (Place we like to funk)
Ghetto Land, that's the place where we funk
Say, where is the place to funk?
Ghetto Land, that's the place where we funk (Place we like to funk)
Ghetto Land, that's the place where we funk
Ho (Place we like to funk)
Ghetto Land, that's the place where we funk (Place we like to funk)
Where's the place we like to funk? Where's the place we like to funk?
Ghetto Land, that's the place where we funk (Place we like to funk)
Ghetto Land, that's the place where we funk from day to day
Ghetto Land, Ghetto Land
Ghetto Land, that's the place where we funk from day to day
Ghetto Land
Written by: Rick James