Living for the City
Stevie Wonder
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
A boy is born in hard time Mississippi Surrounded by four walls that ain't so pretty His parents give him love and affection To keep him strong moving in the right direction Living just enough, just enough for the city His father works some days for fourteen hours And you can bet he barely makes a dollar His mother goes to scrub the floors for many And you'd best believe she hardly gets a penny Living just enough, just enough for the city yeah His sister's black but she is sho 'nuff pretty Her skirt is short but Lord her legs are sturdy To walk to school she's got to get up early Her clothes are old but never are they dirty Living just enough, just enough for the city Her brother's smart he's got more sense than many His patience's long but soon he won't have any To find a job is like a haystack needle 'Cause where he lives they don't use colored people Living just enough, just enough for the city Just enough for the city Living for the city Just enough for the city Enough for the city Just enough for the city Living for the city Just enough for the city Enough for the city Just enough for the city Living for Just enough for the city Living for the city Just enough for the city Just enough for the city For the city Just enough for the city For the city Just enough for the city For the city Just enough for the city For the city
Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!
Written by: Stevie Wonder
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Release Date"Living for the City" was released on October 1973. It is part of Stevie Wonder's 15th studio album, "Innervisions".
|
Chart SuccessThe song hit number 1 on the Billboard R&B chart, and also reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. The success of the song helped cement Stevie Wonder's status as a leading figure in R&B music.
|
Lyrics and ThemeWonder's lyrics narrate a story about a poor black family who move from the rural South to New York City. The song narrates the challenges of racism, urban poverty and systemic struggles, touching on a deeply political subject matter.
|
Self ProductionStevie Wonder not only wrote but also produced the song. He played all the instruments featured in the track, showcasing his multi-instrumental skills and musical versatility.
|
Grammy AwardThe instrumental version of this song won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental in the 1974 Grammy Awards.
|
Social Commentary"Living for the City" is noted for its innovative and bold take on social commentary at the time of its release. Wonder was applauded for addressing issues of racial inequality and poverty.
|
Recording TechniqueThe song is known for its use of the TONTO synthesizer, giving it a unique and distinct sound. It also features a mock conversation in the middle of the song, which was one of the first uses of this technique.
|
Cultural InfluenceRolling Stone magazine ranked "Living for the City" at number 105 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004. It has been covered by several artists and bands since its release.
|
Tribute Concert PerformanceIn 2010, Wonder performed "Living for the City" as part of a tribute concert for Paul McCartney at the White House.
|
Film AppearanceThe song was used in the movie Jungle Fever, a 1991 American drama film directed by Spike Lee. It is also featured in the soundtrack for the movie.
|
Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Living for the City Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/881938/Stevie+Wonder/Living+for+the+City>.
Discuss the Living for the City Lyrics with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In