Let's Clean Up the Ghetto

You know, I was in
New York City a few months ago
And the garbage and th
Trash men were on strike
I'm talking about the
Maintenance people for the city
What they were trying to do was
They were trying to get
A little more money
You know, get a little raise in pay
But at that particular time
The city was broke
They were about ready
To declare default
I tell you, the garbage in some places
Was stacked up two, three stories high
At night, heh, boy, at night
It wasn't even safe to
Walk the streets, you see
Cause the rats
The roaches and the water bugs
I mean they were hustling, baby
Trying to get something to eat, see
And let me tell you something
It was stinking
Boy, there was all kind
Of disease in there
You know, but it only brought
To mind the fact that you can
No longer depend on the man downtown
To take care of business like
He's supposed to when he's supposed to
In order for us to get it
Like it's supposed to be
As far as cleanliness
You know, and safety
We gotta get together
And do it for ourselves
That's the only way it's gonna be done
And you know what I'm talking about
Let me tell you what I mean
(Clean it up, clean it up)
Well, y'all, get it
(Clean it up, clean it up)
You've gotta get it
(Clean it up, clean it up)
Get it, you know you get it
(Clean it up, clean it up)
Ghetto, talking bout the ghetto
Ghetto is our home
That's where we live
Where we live
Get your paint
Get your hammer, your nails
Get your brooms
Your mop and your pails
We gonna wash it, polish
And make it all clean
Let's wash away all of the sin
Time for a new life to begin
In the ghetto