Momma's in the kitchen with mister joe

and daddy must be halfway to st. paul by now

and the people next door won't let'cha get no sleep

seems like they've been fighting there all week

and it gets so hot down here in east l.a.

and the streets are gonna run like a river today

and the welfare man, yeah he's waiting at the door

wants to have a word with mamma

and he wants a little bit more

and no one's tryin' anymore

ya just get promises

and you've heard all the promises before

oh, this is some tough city

yeah, this is one hard town

wo-ho, this is some tough city.

they build you up and then they tear you down

oh, this is one tough city

wo-ho, this is one tough city.

this is one hard town

hard town baby, yeah, yeah, yeah

there's man on the radio

and he's readin the news

says things are tough all over like 1932

ain't no hope when it gets this slow

seems like everybody gave up years ago

and no one's tryin' anymore, anymore

ya just get promises

and you've heard all the promises before,

yes you have now

oh, this is some tough city

yeah, this is one hard town

wo-ho, this is some tough city.

they build you up and then they tear you down, tear you down

yes they tear you down, tear you down

this is one hard town

hard town baby, yeah, yeah

there's a line outside the mission

gonna get you whatcha want

and the salvation army's got the sisters out in front

and the unemployment office it stays open all night long

And the President keeps sayin', yeah, we'll make this country strong

oh, this is some tough city

yeah, this is one hard town

wo-ho, this is some tough city

they build you up and then they tear you down

oh, this is some tough city

yeah, this is one hard town

wo-ho, this is some tough city.

they build you up and then they tear you down

oh, this is some tough city

this is one hard town

(this is some tough city)

yes, they'll tear you down

oh, this is some tough city

this is one hard townoh, this is some tough city

they build you up....