Living for the City

Stevie Wonder

Lyrics Translation

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

Mm, 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, yeah

Living just enough for the city
Living for the city, yeah
Oh, living just enough for the city
Ain't nothin' for the city
Oh, living just enough for the city
Living for the city, yeah, yeah
Oh, living just enough for the city
The lessons of the city
Oh, living just enough for the city
Living for the city, yeah, yeah
Oh, living just enough for the city
The funky, cruddy city
Oh, living just enough for the city
I'm living for the city, yeah, yeah
Oh, living just enough for the city
For a nothing, nothing, city
Oh, living just enough for the city
Every body clap your hand, it's going down

Oh, living just enough for the city
Mm-hmm, for the city, yeah
Oh, living just enough for the city
Hmm, for the city, yeah
Oh, living just enough for the city
For the city, yeah
Oh, living just enough for the city
For the city

"Bus going to New York City"
"Hey, bus driver I'm getting on there, hold it"

"Thanks a lot"

"Wow
New York, just like I pictured it
God straightened everything"

"Psst, hey, hey, brother
Hey, come here flick
Yeah, you look, you look hip man
Hey you wanna make your self five bucks man?"
"Yeah brother I just came into town"
"Look here, run this across the street for me right quick, okay?
Run it across the street for me"

"Hey, what?
Huh? I didn't know
What? I'm just going across the street
"Shut your mouth"
"Oh no, what I do?"
"Okay turn around, turn around
Put your hands behind your back lets go, lets go"

"A jury of your peers having found you guilty ten years"
"What?"
"Come on, come on, get in that cell nigger"
"My God, no"

His hair is long, his feet are hard and gritty
He spends his life walking the streets of New York City
He's almost dead from breathing in air pollution
He tried to vote but to him there's no solution

Living just enough, just enough for the city yeah, yeah, yeah

I hope you hear inside my voice of sorrow
And that it motivates you to make a better tomorrow
This place is cruel no where could be much colder
If we don't change the world will soon be over

Living just enough, stop giving just enough for the city

Um menino nasce em tempos difíceis no Mississippi
Cercado por quatro paredes que não são tão bonitas
Seus pais lhe dão amor e carinho
Para mantê-lo forte, seguindo na direção certa
Vivendo apenas o suficiente, apenas o suficiente para a cidade

Seu pai trabalha alguns dias por quatorze horas
E você pode apostar que ele mal ganha um dólar
Sua mãe vai esfregar os pisos para muitos
E você pode acreditar que ela mal ganha um centavo
Vivendo apenas o suficiente, apenas o suficiente para a cidade, sim

Sua irmã é negra, mas ela é muito bonita
Sua saia é curta, mas Senhor, suas pernas são fortes
Para ir à escola, ela tem que acordar cedo
Suas roupas são velhas, mas nunca estão sujas
Vivendo apenas o suficiente, apenas o suficiente para a cidade, hum hum

Seu irmão é inteligente, ele tem mais senso do que muitos
Sua paciência é longa, mas logo ele não terá nenhuma
Encontrar um emprego é como achar uma agulha no palheiro
Porque onde ele mora, eles não usam pessoas de cor
Vivendo apenas o suficiente, apenas o suficiente para a cidade

Vivendo apenas o suficiente
Para a cidade
Vivendo apenas o suficiente
Para a cidade
Vivendo apenas o suficiente
Para a cidade
Vivendo apenas o suficiente
Para a cidade
Vivendo apenas o suficiente
Para a cidade
Vivendo apenas o suficiente
Para a cidade

Un niño nace en la difícil época de Mississippi
Rodeado de cuatro paredes que no son tan bonitas
Sus padres le dan amor y afecto
Para mantenerlo fuerte moviéndose en la dirección correcta
Viviendo justo lo suficiente, justo lo suficiente para la ciudad

Su padre trabaja algunos días durante catorce horas
Y puedes apostar que apenas gana un dólar
Su madre va a fregar los suelos para muchos
Y puedes creer que apenas recibe un centavo
Viviendo justo lo suficiente, justo lo suficiente para la ciudad, sí

Su hermana es negra pero es muy bonita
Su falda es corta pero Señor sus piernas son fuertes
Para ir a la escuela tiene que levantarse temprano
Su ropa es vieja pero nunca está sucia
Viviendo justo lo suficiente, justo lo suficiente para la ciudad, um hum

Su hermano es inteligente, tiene más sentido común que muchos
Su paciencia es larga pero pronto no tendrá ninguna
Encontrar un trabajo es como buscar una aguja en un pajar
Porque donde él vive no usan a gente de color
Viviendo justo lo suficiente, justo lo suficiente para la ciudad

Viviendo justo lo suficiente
Para la ciudad
Viviendo justo lo suficiente
Para la ciudad
Viviendo justo lo suficiente
Para la ciudad
Viviendo justo lo suficiente
Para la ciudad
Viviendo justo lo suficiente
Para la ciudad
Viviendo justo lo suficiente
Para la ciudad

Un garçon naît dans le difficile Mississippi
Entouré de quatre murs qui ne sont pas si jolis
Ses parents lui donnent de l'amour et de l'affection
Pour le garder fort, avançant dans la bonne direction
Vivant juste assez, juste assez pour la ville

Son père travaille certains jours pendant quatorze heures
Et vous pouvez parier qu'il gagne à peine un dollar
Sa mère va frotter les sols pour beaucoup
Et vous feriez mieux de croire qu'elle obtient à peine un centime
Vivant juste assez, juste assez pour la ville, ouais

Sa sœur est noire mais elle est vraiment jolie
Sa jupe est courte mais Seigneur ses jambes sont robustes
Pour aller à l'école, elle doit se lever tôt
Ses vêtements sont vieux mais jamais ils ne sont sales
Vivant juste assez, juste assez pour la ville, um hum

Son frère est intelligent, il a plus de sens que beaucoup
Sa patience est longue mais bientôt il n'en aura plus
Trouver un emploi est comme une aiguille dans une botte de foin
Parce que là où il vit, ils n'utilisent pas de gens de couleur
Vivant juste assez, juste assez pour la ville

Vivant juste assez
Pour la ville
Vivant juste assez
Pour la ville
Vivant juste assez
Pour la ville
Vivant juste assez
Pour la ville
Vivant juste assez
Pour la ville
Vivant juste assez
Pour la ville

Ein Junge wird in schwierigen Zeiten in Mississippi geboren
Umgeben von vier Wänden, die nicht so hübsch sind
Seine Eltern geben ihm Liebe und Zuneigung
Um ihn stark zu halten und in die richtige Richtung zu bewegen
Gerade genug leben, gerade genug für die Stadt

Sein Vater arbeitet manche Tage vierzehn Stunden
Und du kannst wetten, dass er kaum einen Dollar verdient
Seine Mutter geht, um die Böden für viele zu schrubben
Und du kannst am besten glauben, dass sie kaum einen Cent bekommt
Gerade genug leben, gerade genug für die Stadt, ja

Seine Schwester ist schwarz, aber sie ist wirklich hübsch
Ihr Rock ist kurz, aber Herr, ihre Beine sind stabil
Um zur Schule zu gehen, muss sie früh aufstehen
Ihre Kleidung ist alt, aber niemals sind sie schmutzig
Gerade genug leben, gerade genug für die Stadt, um hum

Ihr Bruder ist klug, er hat mehr Verstand als viele
Seine Geduld ist lang, aber bald wird er keine mehr haben
Einen Job zu finden ist wie eine Nadel im Heuhaufen
Denn wo er lebt, benutzen sie keine farbigen Menschen
Gerade genug leben, gerade genug für die Stadt

Gerade genug leben
Für die Stadt
Gerade genug leben
Für die Stadt
Gerade genug leben
Für die Stadt
Gerade genug leben
Für die Stadt
Gerade genug leben
Für die Stadt
Gerade genug leben
Für die Stadt

Un ragazzo nasce nel difficile Mississippi
Circondato da quattro mura che non sono così belle
I suoi genitori gli danno amore e affetto
Per mantenerlo forte muovendosi nella giusta direzione
Vivendo appena abbastanza, appena abbastanza per la città

Suo padre lavora alcuni giorni per quattordici ore
E puoi scommettere che guadagna appena un dollaro
Sua madre va a strofinare i pavimenti per molti
E faresti meglio a credere che lei guadagna appena un centesimo
Vivendo appena abbastanza, appena abbastanza per la città, sì

Sua sorella è nera ma è davvero bella
La sua gonna è corta ma Signore le sue gambe sono robuste
Per andare a scuola deve alzarsi presto
I suoi vestiti sono vecchi ma non sono mai sporchi
Vivendo appena abbastanza, appena abbastanza per la città, um hum

Suo fratello è intelligente, ha più senso di molti
La sua pazienza è lunga ma presto non ne avrà più
Trovare un lavoro è come un ago in un pagliaio
Perché dove vive non usano persone di colore
Vivendo appena abbastanza, appena abbastanza per la città

Vivendo appena abbastanza
Per la città
Vivendo appena abbastanza
Per la città
Vivendo appena abbastanza
Per la città
Vivendo appena abbastanza
Per la città
Vivendo appena abbastanza
Per la città
Vivendo appena abbastanza
Per la città

Seorang anak laki-laki lahir di masa sulit Mississippi
Dikelilingi oleh empat dinding yang tidak begitu indah
Orang tuanya memberinya cinta dan kasih sayang
Untuk menjaganya kuat bergerak ke arah yang benar
Hidup cukup, cukup untuk kota

Ayahnya bekerja beberapa hari selama empat belas jam
Dan Anda bisa bertaruh dia hampir tidak mendapatkan sepeser pun
Ibunya pergi untuk menyikat lantai untuk banyak orang
Dan Anda sebaiknya percaya dia hampir tidak mendapatkan sepeser pun
Hidup cukup, cukup untuk kota, ya

Adik perempuannya berkulit hitam tapi dia sangat cantik
Roknya pendek tapi Tuhan kakinya kuat
Untuk berjalan ke sekolah dia harus bangun pagi-pagi
Pakaianya tua tapi tidak pernah kotor
Hidup cukup, cukup untuk kota, um hum

Kakaknya pintar, dia lebih berakal daripada banyak orang
Kesabaran kakaknya panjang tapi sebentar lagi dia tidak akan punya
Mencari pekerjaan seperti mencari jarum di tumpukan jerami
Karena di tempat dia tinggal mereka tidak menggunakan orang berkulit hitam
Hidup cukup, cukup untuk kota

Hidup cukup
Untuk kota
Hidup cukup
Untuk kota
Hidup cukup
Untuk kota
Hidup cukup
Untuk kota
Hidup cukup
Untuk kota
Hidup cukup
Untuk kota

มีเด็กชายเกิดขึ้นในช่วงเวลาที่ยากลำบากที่มิซซิซิปปี้
โดยล้อมลอบด้วยสี่ผนังที่ไม่สวยงาม
พ่อแม่ของเขาให้ความรักและความรักใคร่
เพื่อให้เขาแข็งแกร่งและเดินทางในทิศทางที่ถูกต้อง
มีชีวิตอยู่พอเพียง พอเพียงสำหรับเมือง

พ่อของเขาทำงานบางวันถึงสิบสี่ชั่วโมง
และคุณสามารถเดาได้ว่าเขาหาเงินได้น้อยมาก
แม่ของเขาไปขัดพื้นสำหรับหลายคน
และคุณควรเชื่อว่าเธอได้รับเพียงเซ็นต์เท่านั้น
มีชีวิตอยู่พอเพียง พอเพียงสำหรับเมือง ใช่

น้องสาวของเขาผิวดำ แต่เธอสวยมาก
กระโปรงของเธอสั้น แต่พระเจ้า ขาของเธอแข็งแรง
เพื่อไปโรงเรียน เธอต้องตื่นขึ้นเร็ว
เสื้อผ้าของเธอเก่า แต่ไม่เคยสกปรก
มีชีวิตอยู่พอเพียง พอเพียงสำหรับเมือง อืม ฮึม

พี่ชายของเธอฉลาด เขามีสติมากกว่าหลายคน
ความอดทนของเขายาว แต่เร็วๆนี้เขาจะไม่มีอีกต่อไป
หางานเหมือนหาเข็มในฟากฟาง
เพราะที่เขาอยู่ พวกเขาไม่ใช้คนผิวสี
มีชีวิตอยู่พอเพียง พอเพียงสำหรับเมือง

มีชีวิตอยู่พอเพียง
สำหรับเมือง
มีชีวิตอยู่พอเพียง
สำหรับเมือง
มีชีวิตอยู่พอเพียง
สำหรับเมือง
มีชีวิตอยู่พอเพียง
สำหรับเมือง
มีชีวิตอยู่พอเพียง
สำหรับเมือง
มีชีวิตอยู่พอเพียง
สำหรับเมือง

一个男孩在艰难时期的密西西比州出生
四面围墙并不那么漂亮
他的父母给他爱和关怀
让他坚强地朝着正确的方向前进
只是勉强生活,只为了城市

他的父亲有些天要工作十四个小时
你可以打赌他几乎不能赚到一美元
他的母亲去为许多人擦洗地板
你最好相信她几乎得不到一分钱
只是勉强生活,只为了城市,是的

他的姐姐是黑人,但她真的很漂亮
她的裙子很短,但主啊,她的腿很结实
要去上学,她必须早起
她的衣服很旧,但从未脏过
只是勉强生活,只为了城市,嗯哼

她的弟弟很聪明,比许多人更有头脑
他的耐心很长,但很快他就不会有任何了
找工作就像大海捞针
因为在他住的地方,他们不雇佣有色人种
只是勉强生活,只为了城市

只是勉强生活
为了城市
只是勉强生活
为了城市
只是勉强生活
为了城市
只是勉强生活
为了城市
只是勉强生活
为了城市
只是勉强生活
为了城市

Trivia about the song Living for the City by Stevie Wonder

On which albums was the song “Living for the City” released by Stevie Wonder?
Stevie Wonder released the song on the albums “Innervisions” in 1973, “Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I” in 1982, “Stevie Wonder’s Original Musiquarium” in 1982, “Natural Wonder” in 1995, “At The Close of a Century” in 2000, “Song Review: A Greatest Hits Collection” in 2002, “The Definitive Collection” in 2002, “Stevie Wonder: The Definitive Collection” in 2002, “Number Ones” in 2007, and “The Complete Stevie Wonder” in 2018.

Most popular songs of Stevie Wonder

Other artists of R&B