[Verse 1]
A A * As the snow flies
C#m On a cold and grey Chicago mornin'
DE A poor little baby child is born
A A * In the ghetto
 [Verse 2]
A A * And his mama cries
C#m 'cause if there's one thing that she don't need
DE It's another hungry mouth to feed
A A * In the ghetto
 [Chorus]
E People don't you understand
DA The child needs a helping hand
DEA Or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day
E Take a look at you and me,
DA Are we too blind to see..
DC#mBmE Do we simply turn our heads and look the other way
A A * Well the world turns
C#m And a hungry little boy with a runny nose
DE Plays in the street as the cold wind blows
A A * In the ghetto
 [Verse 3]
A A * And his hunger burns
C#m so he starts to roam the streets at night
DE And he learns how to steal, and he learns how to fight
A A * In the ghetto
 [Chorus]
E Then one night in desperation
DA A young man breaks away
DC#m He buys a gun, steals a car,
BmE Tries to run, but he don't get far
A A * And his mama cries
C#m As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man
DE Face down on the street with a gun in his hand
A A * In the ghetto
 [Outro]
A A * As her young man dies,
C#m On a cold and grey Chicago mornin'
DE Another little baby child is born
A A * In the ghetto
A A *