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Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Curtis Mayfield
Vocals
Craig McCullen
Guitar
Joseph Scott
Bass Guitar
Master Henry Gibson
Percussion
Morris Jennings
Drums
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Curtis Mayfield
Songwriter
Gary Slabo
Arranger
Johnny Pate
Arranger
Riley Hampton
Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Curtis Mayfield
Producer
Irv Stimler
Producer
Bill Inglot
Reissue Producer
Dan Hersch
Mastering Engineer
David McLees
Reissue Producer
Roger Anfinsen
Recording Engineer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Little child, runnin' wild
Watch a while
You see he never smiles
[Verse 2]
Broken home, father gone
Mama tired, so he's all alone
Kind of sad, kind of mad
Ghetto child, thinkin' he's been had
[Verse 3]
But I can just hear him
In the back of his mind sayin'
Didn't have to be here
[Verse 4]
You didn't have to love for me
While I was just a nothin' child
Why couldn't y'all just let me be
Let me be, let me be, let me be?
[Verse 5]
Little child, runnin' wild
Watch a while
You see he never smiles
[Verse 6]
Broken home, daddy gone
Mama tired and he's all alone
Kind of sad, oh baby, kind of mad
Ghetto child, thinkin' he's been had
[Verse 7]
And I can just hear him sayin'
I didn't have to be here
You didn't have to love for me
[Verse 8]
While I was just a nothin' child
Why couldn't they just let me be
Let me be, let me be, let me be?
Written by: Curtis Mayfield