The Ghetto

Donny Hathaway

About The Ghetto

"The Ghetto" is a socially conscious, mostly instrumental jazz-flavored anthem, released as the first single off American soul singer Donny Hathaway's debut album, Everything Is Everything, released as a single in 1970 on Atlantic Records. The song was co-written by Hathaway and Leroy Hutson. The song was a 6 minute and 50 second extravaganza which built upon a cinematic feel with its lengthy instrumental though it did feature vocal ad-libs from Hathaway, who played Wurlitzer electric piano on the song, and constant chants of the song, which had a distinctive Afro-Cuban sound with congas. The song also featured additional backgrounds, dialogue from what sound like men talking on a street corner and a baby crying - that baby being Hathaway's own daughter Lalah before Hathaway ended the song with frenetic hand claps. When originally released in 1970, the song became a modest charted single, peaking at number 87 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 23 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. The song was also featured on Hathaway's revered Live album in which Hathaway and his musicians played a faster version of the song and later featured Hathaway getting the audience into it singing the final chorus. The song was also used in the 1977 film Short Eyes. 


Year:
2006
6:53
58 
#1

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Yes, this is the ghetto, sure 'nuff now
Don't you know that's all right yeah, yeah

The ghetto, the ghetto, the ghetto
The ghetto, the ghetto, the ghetto
The ghetto, the ghetto, the ghetto
The ghetto, the ghetto, the ghetto

The ghetto, the ghetto, the ghetto
The ghetto, the ghetto, the ghetto
The ghetto, the ghetto, the ghetto
The ghetto, the ghetto, the ghetto

Wait a minute
No you ain't doin' what you're suppose to
You doin' what you wanna do
But you know you, ?

The ghetto, the ghetto, the ghetto
The ghetto, the ghetto, the ghetto
The ghetto, the ghetto, the ghetto
The ghetto, the ghetto, the ghetto

The ghetto, the ghetto, the ghetto
The ghetto, the ghetto, the ghetto
The ghetto, the ghetto, the ghetto
The ghetto, the ghetto

The ghetto, talkin' 'bout the ghetto
The ghetto, talkin' 'bout the ghetto
The ghetto, talkin' 'bout the ghetto
The ghetto, talkin' 'bout the ghetto

The ghetto, talkin' 'bout the ghetto
The ghetto, talkin' 'bout the ghetto
The ghetto, talkin' 'bout the ghetto
The ghetto, talkin' 'bout the ghetto

I'm talkin' 'bout the ghetto
I'm talkin' 'bout the ghetto
Can you all dig it out there?
Can you dig it?

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Donny Hathaway

Donny Edward Hathaway (October 1, 1945 – January 13, 1979) was an American soul singer-songwriter and musician. Hathaway contracted with Atlantic Records in 1969 and with his first single for the Atco label, "The Ghetto, Part I" in early 1970, Rolling Stone magazine "marked him as a major new force in soul music." more »

2 fans

Written by: Donny Edward Hathaway, Leroy Hutson

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Release Details
"The Ghetto" was released on November 9, 1970, as part of the Donny Hathaway's debut studio album "Everything Is Everything."
Chart Performance
While the song didn’t chart on the Billboard 100, it achieved respectable popularity on the R&B chart, reaching number 23 in 1970.
Genre Classification
The song is a fusion of soul and jazz, alongside funk influences, which were groundbreaking for the time.
Inspiration and Themes
The song speaks powerfully about poverty, struggle, and life in the ghetto – operating as a social conscience for the black struggle in America during its release period.
Songwriter and Composers
"The Ghetto" was co-written by Donny Hathaway and Leroy Hutson, a former lead singer of the '60s R&B/Soul group the Impressions.
Instrumentation
Besides Hathaway’s distinctive and powerful vocals, the track also features an infectious rhythm section, creative use of chorus vocals, and a memorable horn section that punctuates the rhythm.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered and sampled by numerous artists, including Too Short, Nas, and D'Angelo - testifying to its enduring relevance and popularity.
Live Performance
Donny performed a live version of "The Ghetto" which is included on his posthumously released 1980 album "In Performance".
Legacy
Today, "The Ghetto" is regarded as a classic by Hathaway, characterized by its vibrant instrumentation and poignant social commentary.
Local Recognition
The song was especially celebrated in Hathaway’s hometown of Chicago, where he had been actively involved in the civil rights movement.
Album Success
"The Ghetto" contributed to the success of "Everything is Everything," which peaked at number 33 on the Billboard Top LPs chart.
Historical Context
Through "The Ghetto", Hathaway – a Howard University trained musician – was able to draw attention to the civil rights struggles of the day, making it not just a song, but a historical piece.

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