When I was a young boynGrowing up in the ghettonHanging out on cornersnSingin' with the fellasnLookin' for the cute chicksnTrying to find a bit of funnLooking for some troublenOr anyone who'll give me somennI was young and crazynIn the ghettonDidn't know what my life would benIn the ghettonI was dumb and oh so lazynIn the ghettonSomething had a spell on menIn the ghettonnYou want to know what I'm talkin' bout?nTalkin' 'bout ghetto lifenGhetto LifenYou want to know what I'm singin' 'bout?nTalkin' 'bout ghetto lifenGhetto LifennWhen I was a young mannKind of free and fancynMet this little cute girlnShe said her name was NancynShe had pigtails to her shouldersnShe couldn't have been much oldernShe taught me what I had to knownTo make a girl not want to gonnShe was very kinkynIn the ghettonShe laid her pigtails down on menIn the ghettonAnd I was feeling oh so sneakynIn the ghettonI had to see what love could benIn the ghettonnI knew it all alongnThat my game was strongnBut I was wrong that timenI knew I had to praynAnd give myself awaynDid you think I was man enough?nYeahnDid you think I was smart enough?nYeahnDid you think I was strong enough?nYeahnDid you think I'd work it out?nnThe Ghetto LifenSing it to ya, hit it baby babynTalkin 'bout ghetto lifenYou got to get on overnTalkin 'bout ghetto lifennWhen I was a young boynTenements, slums and corner bumsnPlaying tag with winosnThe only way to have some funnOne thing 'bout the ghettonYou don't ha