Ghetto Kwanza Joy

Kids on the corner,

hands in their sleeves

We make a small world out of what we believe

A little paper star,

a borrowed light (oh)

Streetlamp flickers, December air

Mama counts change like a quiet prayer

Supper’s a pot

with a little left

Still she says, “Baby,

we’re blessed” (yeah)

We don’t need much

to sing a song

When love is the coat

we put on

So pass that hope from hand to hand (ooh)

Christmas in the ghetto,

hear the children sing

Tin-can angels and a secondhand string

If you got a dollar,

you can make it ring

Love is the gift,

love is the thing (oh-oh)

Cardboard fireplace, tape on the seams

Daddy works nights

but he still got dreams

Neighbor brings bread, somebody brings cheer

We make a choir out of who’s still here (hmm)

We hang our wishes on a window frame

Every hard year still lights the flame

Come on and look at what we found (ooh-yeah)

Christmas in the ghetto,

hear the children sing

Tin-can angels and a secondhand string

If you got a dollar,

you can make it ring

Love is the gift,

love is the thing (hey)

Some folks got plenty,

some folks get by

But everybody needs somebody

tonight

So open your door,

even just a crack

We’ll bring the song and bring it back (ahhhh)

Christmas in the ghetto,

hear the children sing

Tin-can angels and a secondhand string

If you got a dollar,

you can make it ring

Love is the gift,

love is the thing

Christmas in the ghetto,

let the bells be near

We ain’t got much but we got us here (oh-oh)

Let it be peace on our block tonight

Let it be love in the morning light (yeah)