In the Ghetto – Elvis

As the snow flies
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
A poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto

And his mama cries
'Cause if there's one thing that she don't need
It's another hungry mouth to feed
In the ghetto

People, don't you understand
The child needs a helping hand
Or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day
Take a look at you and me,
Are we too blind to see?
Do we simply turn our heads and look the other way?

Well, the world turns
And a hungry little boy with a runny nose
Plays in the street as the cold wind blows
In the ghetto

And his hunger burns
So he starts to roam the streets at night
And he learns how to steal, and he learns how to fight
In the ghetto

Then one night in desperation
The young man breaks away
He buys a gun,
Steals a car,
Tries to run,
But he don't get far
And his mama cries

As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man
Face down on the street with a gun in his hand
In the ghetto

And as her young man dies,
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin',
Another little baby child is born
In the ghetto

And his mama cries

In The Ghetto was on the From Elvis in Memphis album – remember albums?  This 15th album was a departure from a run of sort of corny Elvis movies.  (Which I remember fondly going to see at matinees at the local picture theatre)

In the Ghetto was the last track on the album and was a big hit.  It was totally different from other Elvis numbers – and quite controversial in its themes for the era – the late 60's. I've seen the song described as 'quite political' – I wouldn't say 'quite'.

The song was originally called The Vicious Circle – doesn't have quite the same ring to it, does it?

If you would like to hear the King sing the song head on over to this YouTube clip (sorry there is an ad at the beginning but you can push a button to skip over it).